Page 43 - Star Wars Insider - The Last Jedi 2018

CANTO BIGHT

dj
trust issues

BENICIO DEL T OR O

The strange underworld profi teer DJ doesn’t trust anyone, but
can Finn and Rose trust him?

6 /

THIS CHARMING MAN
Director Rian Johnson admits
to feeling fortunate that Benicio
Del Toro agreed to play the part
of DJ in The Last Jedi, adding:
“He’s charming but also rides
that wonderful line where you’re
not exactly sure if you trust him.”
According to costume designer

Michael Kaplan, Del Toro’s outfit in

the film helped the actor discover
who and what DJ is. “His costume
had a big collar that he started
hiding behind,“ says Kaplan. “Cool
boots and gloves, all these things
he found a way to use in creating
his character.”

oining a long lineage of scoundrels Creating a character like this is really fun.”
stretching back to the original Star Wars, Developing DJ entailed working closely with
Benicio Del Toro plays DJ, a dubious and writer/director Rian Johnson. According to Del
J enigmatic fi gure encountered by Finn and Toro, Johnson is the kind of director you can
Rose in a jail cell on Canto Bight. get creative with. “I had ideas and ran them by
Del Toro describes DJ as “very cool,” but also Rian,” the actor explains. “And Rian is a fun
“a cynic,” explaining: “He believes that good director that way.” The aim for the pair was “to
guys and bad guys are just basically the same.” build something that was unique for this fi lm.
In addition, the actor makes note of the fact that At the same time, DJ had to be both repulsive
DJ is “a profi teer. He profi ts from the eternal war and attractive. So you juggle that and hope some
of good and evil. He’s an opportunist but can get things work better than others. But I had faith
you out of a jam, and get you in a jam. We play in Rian.”
that line of whether he is good or bad. We don’t In Del Toro’s mind, “DJ’s mantra is live free
know. But he’s a mercenary, really.” and don’t join.” It’s an attitude that DJ attempts
For Del Toro, the opportunity to get to grips to use to persuade Finn to his way of thinking,
6 / Always in trouble, with a shady Star Wars character who both “to show Finn that even the good guys are dirty
never to blame! plays to and against audience expectations was at times and perhaps corrupt as well. He’s like
one that he relished. Calling the production “a this little devil on Finn’s shoulder that basically is
7 / DJ as played by
Benicio Del Toro. (See winning team,” the actor highlights how “they trying to make him see a different side or different
opposite page) allowed creativity to grow in front of the camera. approach to living in the galaxy.” a

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