'Star Wars' Actor Refuses To Work With Disney Over Company's "Fascism"

One Star Wars actor has revealed whether he’s willing to return to a galaxy far, far away – and let’s just say, it’s not sounding good.

Since Disney purchased Lucasfilm, fans have witnessed (and, in some cases, resisted) a string of changes to the Star Wars franchise. On one hand, we now have a somewhat steady stream of Star Wars content on Disney+. But on the other hand, not everyone is convinced by the Mickey Mouse era of George Lucas’ universe.

The likes of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) proved divisive among diehard fans, while several Disney+ efforts – such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Acolyte – have left audiences feeling underwhelmed.

It also doesn’t help matters that Disney has proven extremely fickle when it comes to greenlighting new Star Wars projects. Several announced films, such as projects by The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and Marvel’s Taika Waititi, have disappeared into thin air, while several – including a standalone film featuring Daisy Ridley’s long-awaited return as Rey – appear to hang in eternal limbo.

Most controversially, it has also recently emerged that Disney (specifically, CEO Bob Iger and Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment Alan Bergman) had scrapped a planned return for Adam Driver in The Hunt for Ben Solo. Backlash among fans was so intense that some even paid for a hired plane to fly a banner over The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, reading “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo.”

‘Star Wars’ Actor Rejects Disney

All in all, Disney’s reign over a galaxy far, far away hasn’t unfolded the way Iger and co. likely hoped. As per a recent interview, the company’s involvement in the franchise is also hindering the return of another fan-favorite Star Wars actor, Oscar Isaac.

Isaac – who portrayed X-wing pilot Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy – told GQ that he would only reprise the role under the strict condition that The Walt Disney Company doesn’t “succumb to fascism.”

“If that happens, then yeah, I’d be open to having a conversation about a galaxy far away,” he said. “Or any number of other things.”

This followed a question from GQ over a previous comment from Isaac that he would only return to Star Wars if he wanted to buy another house.

“Right now, I’m not so open to working with Disney,” Isaac said on the matter, after acknowledging that his previous comment was “slightly dickish.” He added that he’d be more open to the matter if the company “can kinda figure it out.”

Recent Controversy For The Walt Disney Company

His comments follow a period of heightened controversy for The Walt Disney Company, which recently temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! The decision came after Kimmel’s remarks regarding political activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The move sparked criticism from observers who argued that Disney had bowed to pressure from the Trump administration to take Kimmel off the air.

(Notably, GQ clarified that Isaac – who has also worked with the company to lead the Disney+ Marvel series Moon Knight – made his comments two days after ABC and Disney suspended production, with Kimmel ultimately restored to the role days later.)

Disney has come under scrutiny for scaling back portions of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, shifting from diversity-specific executive performance metrics to broader “talent strategy” measures. The company also removed references to the 2021 “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative in regulatory filings and discontinued several development programs for underrepresented employees.

The revised approach was explained in a memo from chief human resources officer Sonia Coleman, who said executive compensation will now reflect how leaders uphold company values, integrate multiple perspectives, foster inclusive workplaces, and maintain a strong long-term talent pipeline.

What do you think of Oscar Isaac’s comments about The Walt Disney Company?