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Star Wars actor Jordan Stephens says he declined to return in hit Disney+ series Andor after being told to cut off his dreadlocks to ensure his appearance looked “realistic.”
Stephens, better known as half of U.K. rap duo Rizzle Kicks, originally appeared as Rebel Alliance soldier Corporal Tonc in Star Wars: Rogue One. While Tonc died in the movie, he — and many other actors — were invited back for the subsequent prequel series Andor in order to better flesh out his role.
Unfortunately for Stephens, his return came with a caveat: that he cut off his dreadlocks he had been growing for seven years in order to film “for a day.” Speaking to Zeteo, Stephens said he had even argued his case to point out that he had been wearing a helmet throughout his Rogue One appearance, which would have hidden his locks again in Andor. Alas, he was told this still would not be good enough — and Stephens walked away.
“In Rogue One, I’m wearing a helmet the whole time. So I was like, yeah I’ve got locks but who cares, just put me in a helmet [again],” he began.
“‘Well, we’re going to shoot scenes of the army training’,” he claimed he was then told in response by an unknown person connected to the series’ production. “‘We’re going to be training so we’re going to need you in traditional army attire, including your hair. And if you have locks, I don’t think it’d be realistic’.”
To this, Stephens says he reacted incredulously, pointing out that Star Wars was far from a realistic franchise. The rapper also admitted that the offer came with “f*** all” money for his appearance.
“I was like, you’re talking about an intergalactic space war with giant slugs and swords made of light, and you’re worried about a soldier having dreadlocks?” he concluded. “On principal… the cognitive dissonance was too difficult to handle. The idea that someone would watch and say ‘oh, well he’s got dreadlocks so it’s obviously not real’… what is going on? It’s absolutely insane.”
The hair-cutting requirement for Stephens to return meant that the musician and actor ultimately missed out on appearing in one of the best Star Wars projects in recent years — if not all time. Andor is frequently praised by fans as being Disney’s best production in the franchise, and is absolutely worth your time if you have not yet watched it to date.
Oh, and the idea that Star Wars characters can’t have dreadlocks? This is clearly ridiculous, and undermined by the appearance of Jedi Master Quinlan Vos throughout the Clone Wars series — who has dreadlocks himself.
