Riz Ahmed Did Something “Insane” for His Star Wars: Rogue One Audition

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Riz Ahmed describes his incredibly challenging audition experience and shares his thoughts on where director Gareth Edwards missed the mark.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant’s “Coffee and a Chat,” Riz Ahmed described his audition for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as unusual. He explained that director Gareth Edwards asked for a self-tape audition and, as Ahmed put it, “really slipped up” by giving him his personal email address.

Riz Ahmed’s Strange Star Wars Audition Story

I just kept sending him audition tapes,” Ahmed recalls. “I think I sent fourteen in just four days – looking back, it was a bit crazy! Each tape was a little different – I’d change my costume, try a different feel, and experiment with accents. I was really throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick.

He joked, “I think he gave me the role just so that I’d leave him alone.”

Riz Ahmed first appeared in the Star Wars universe in 2016, playing Bodhi Rook in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film, which precedes the original Star Wars trilogy, features Jyn Erso, the daughter of Mads Mikkelsen’s character, joining the Rebel Alliance to steal the plans for the Death Star and stop the Empire’s powerful new weapon.

In addition to Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, and Riz Ahmed, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story boasts a remarkable cast. The film also features Ben Mendelsohn, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker, with Alan Tudyk providing the voice and physical performance for the character K-2SO.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a huge success, earning over $1 billion worldwide on a budget of just over $280 million. Critics and audiences both loved the film, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a “Certified Fresh” rating of 84% based on over 450 reviews. Audiences also rated it highly, giving it an 87% score on the site based on more than 100,000 reviews.

What’s Next for Riz Ahmed on the Silver Screen?

Fans are eagerly anticipating Ahmed’s next film, Digger, which will be released on October 2nd. The movie, directed and written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, stars Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a seemingly powerful man who must prove he can save the world from a disaster he accidentally started.

The film Digger features a talented cast including Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Wilde, John Goodman, Emma D’Arcy, Pip Torrens, Robert John Burke, and Burn Gorman. Following the project, an Academy Award recipient wrote in 2025, recalling seeing Alejandro’s first film, Amores Perros, 25 years prior. They expressed being deeply touched to receive the Honorary Oscar from him, a dear friend, and eagerly anticipates sharing their new film with audiences next year.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is currently available for streaming on Disney+.

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2026-04-24 20:08