A Jedi’s Enduring Legacy: Cameron Monaghan Calls Cal Kestis His Career Favorite

In a powerful testament to the character’s impact, Cameron Monaghan, the actor who brings the Jedi protagonist Cal Kestis to life in the highly successful Star Wars Jedi video game series, has publicly declared the character as one of the best roles of his career. Monaghan, who is known for portraying a diverse range of characters including Ian Gallagher in Shameless and the Valeska twins (Joker origins) in Gotham, stated that Cal Kestis is “easily one of my favorite characters, if not my favorite character” that he has ever played.

The Actor’s Profound Connection to Cal Kestis

Monaghan, who provides both the voice and the motion capture performance for the former Padawan, made the comment during a recent promotional interview for his ongoing projects. The enthusiastic endorsement highlights the unique relationship between the actor and the character, whose journey from a hidden survivor of Order 66 to a powerful Jedi Knight has resonated deeply with millions of Star Wars fans and critics alike.

The actor’s sentiment is particularly meaningful given his extensive resume, which features several iconic and complex roles:

• Ian Gallagher in Shameless: A long-running, critically acclaimed role where Monaghan navigated a deep, emotional storyline centered on mental health and family dynamics.
• Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in Gotham: A captivating, high-energy performance that reimagined the origin of one of DC’s most famous villains, the Joker.

For Cal Kestis to rank alongside—or even above—these established, live-action roles speaks volumes about the quality of storytelling and character development in the Star Wars Jedi franchise, particularly the two installments, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, both of which are considered top-tier PS5 games.

The Enduring Appeal of the Star Wars Hero

Monaghan praised the opportunity to take the character to new places, appreciating the evolving narrative that explores darker themes in the tumultuous post-Order 66 era. Cal Kestis’s story is a compelling blend of classic Jedi heroism and modern, nuanced struggles:

• His vulnerability and struggle with the Dark Side of the Force.
• The weight of being one of the last remaining Jedi.
• The personal relationships that ground him, such as his bond with the droid BD-1 and his crew aboard the Stinger Mantis.

The success of the Star Wars Jedi games has cemented Cal Kestis as one of the most beloved new characters of the Disney era of Star Wars. Monaghan has also previously confirmed that a third installment in the video game series is in development, ensuring that his time with his “favorite character” is far from over.

A Live-Action Future?

The actor’s passion for the character inevitably fuels the long-standing fan speculation about a potential live-action appearance for Cal Kestis in a Star Wars TV show or film. While acknowledging the fan desire, Monaghan has always maintained a cautious yet hopeful outlook, noting that any transition to live-action would “have to be right” to honor the integrity of the character’s journey established in the video games.

As Lucasfilm continues to expand the Star Wars universe across multiple media, the enduring popularity and the actor’s deep connection to Cal Kestis make the Jedi Knight’s eventual jump to the screen seem less like a possibility and more like an inevitability—a development that would undoubtedly delight the dedicated gaming community and fans of the franchise.

Monaghan’s recent comments serve as a powerful reminder of how performance capture technology has elevated video game characters to the level of their live-action counterparts, allowing actors to form genuine and career-defining relationships with their digital roles. His love for Cal Kestis is a reflection of the character’s profound impact on the modern Star Wars canon.