Why Mena Massoud Would Make The Perfect Ezra Bridger

Fans of Disney’s live action Aladdin will be very excited to hear that Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin, has been teasing that he could potentially be playing Ezra Bridger in a live action series continuing post-Star Wars Rebels. Mena Massoud’s portrayal of the ever adored street rat was immediately loved by fans. When he began teasing about being in the running to play the live-action Ezra Bridger, fans became ecstatic.

Not only do Mena Massoud’s good looks and face shape make him the perfect candidate to look like the animated Ezra, but he can also pull off the character perfectly. Why? Because Ezra Bridger’s character is very similar to Aladdin.

Both are young street rats caught up in a world that is vastly different from what they’ve known. Aladdin ends up finding a Genie, having his wishes granted, and leaving a life of poverty behind for a life as a prince. Ezra is out fighting the Empire in his own way, causing trouble, until he ends up running into the crew of the Ghost while doing the same mission. He ends up joining them and becoming a Jedi apprentice. Both are orphaned at a young age. Both are just surviving their world causing trouble in the streets. Both are reliant on tricks, wiles, and thievery to survive in their cutthroat worlds.

Ezra Bridger eventually grows over the course of the series, learning the ways of the Force under Kanan Jarrus, who is a part of the Ghost’s crew. Ezra eventually becomes a major contributor to the fight against the Empire, and ultimately, a fight against Grand Admiral Thrawn. At the end of Star Wars Rebels, he is with Grand Admiral Thrawn, blasting off presumably into the Unknown Regions of space, not to be seen again.

When Ahsoka Tano, played by Rosario Dawson, was brought into live-action in The Mandalorian, we found out that she is on the hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn. This immediately sent fans into all sorts of speculation, including whether or not we would see the surviving crew members of the Ghost. Since we already know that Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren (a member of the crew of the Ghost in Star Wars Rebels) are searching for Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger, it makes sense that Sabine would most likely be a part of the live-action show, whether in a live-action Rebels sequel series or in Ahsoka Tano’s live action series, Ahsoka.

Which also leads fans to the next question: if Ahsoka is searching for Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Ezra Bridger is with him the last time that we see him, would Ezra Bridger be found if Ahsoka catches up to Thrawn? If so, he will need to be cast for live-action.

Mena Massoud recently captioned an Instagram post with: “Hey, just so you know, when I escape I won’t hurt any of you.” This line is said by Ezra in Star Wars Rebels, which adds more fuel to earlier talks that Mena Massoud is in talks to play Ezra. Mena has already proven himself in playing a character that is brought to live-action from animation with his amazing portrayal of Aladdin, and with Ezra Bridger bound to show up in one of the live-action series that Disney+ is planning, then he would be a good choice.

Several other names have also been tossed around in the casting of live-action debut of Ezra Bridger. Rahul Kohli expressed his desire back in 2020 to play the character. Ryan Potter has been a very popular fancast for years. Of course, Ezra’s voice actor, Taylor Gray, is a common pick as well, especially since some more voice actors of the animated Star Wars characters may be coming to live-action as their own characters. But none compare to Mena Massoud, who is the right age, has the right handsome features and looks, and commands the right balance of driven, devil-may-care energy that is both Ezra and Aladdin. Clearly, this makes it perfect for Mena Massoud to transition from Aladdin into the live-action Ezra Bridger.

The Instagram post isn’t a casting announcement, and it could just be Mena Massoud expressing his interest in the role since it is rumored that he is in the running for it. He would be the perfect pick even from just Disney’s standpoint since he’s already worked with them on a live-action remake. He has all the right qualifications, he’s a talented young actor, and he would be an excellent introduction to a live-action Ezra Bridger.

Written By Elizabeth Dresdow

Source(s): Screen Rant

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