Baze Malbus, the heroic Guardian of the Whills in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story may never have made it to the screen without help from an unexpected source: actor Jiang Wen’s son.
On Friday, the digital release of Rogue One featured several extras, including interviews with Jiang Wen, the Chinese actor who played Baze Malbus in Rogue One. Because Wen’s mastery of English is spotty, he has revealed that he wasn’t sure about taking on the film. “A script in English is, of course, hard for me to read,” he says in the film’s special features, “but my son can read great.” According to Wen, after his children took a look at the script, they were totally fine with their father leaving home for five months to shoot the epic Star Wars film.
“After my biggest son read it, he said, ‘Go, Dad! You have to go! Go for us!’” Wen says, “I asked them why, and my two sons said, ‘This is hero.’”
Jiang Wen talks about his kids.
Elsewhere on the extras, actor Donnie Yen also talks about his family and their excitement over him being cast in the movie. By accepting the part of the blind monk Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One, Yen says it made him “finally cool” in the eyes of children.
Donnie Yen in 'Rogue One.'
Rogue One is out today for digital download from multiple platforms, including Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, and others. It will release on Blu-ray and DVD on April 4.
