When Is A Cameo In 'Star Wars' Just A Cameo?
The Star Wars universe is a vast and expansive galaxy. It is also a place where a lot of the characters tend to run into each other when having their own adventures. As Lucasfilm continues to expand this universe, it also wants to connect it. As the series and film side of things continues to expand, it will have to deal with more characters and more cameos. But what defines a cameo? When is something truly a cameo in Star Wars? When is something just a cameo for a cameo's sake and when is it something far more?
A Galaxy of Characters
The Star Wars universe is a place filled with various characters, many large and small. Many of them are all interconnected by the same galaxy and the same story. A story involving war, destiny, the Force. But when more mismatched characters meet, when does the newly introduced character become an important part of the protagonist's story? With this in mind, let's examine the differences between a cameo and an important character and part of the story.
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Some of these differences play a lot into the context of the story. For example, with The Mandalorian, when a Jedi is needed for the story and the only ones left alive in that time period are Ashoka and Luke, and Ashoka doesn’t want to get involved, then who else is left? Make a new character and get the headache of explaining a whole new story within an existing story? Or do you use a character who would make sense for the universe at the time, which would of course, be Luke Skywalker. This is an example of keeping things grounded in Star Wars and the mythology already created.
Worldbuilding is character usage as well. Sometimes a character should or would be in a specific place. Obviously they don’t have to be, if the story doesn’t require them, but it does sometimes feel strange to use a new character when a pre-established one fits the role perfectly. For example, if using an Inquisitor to do "Inquisitor things", use the pre-established Inquisitors, instead of needlessly making new ones.
A Expanding Universe
Now of course, Star Wars should not just be insular, it is good to have new characters, as well as cameos. Obviously The Mandalorian has "the Mandalorian" as the main character, but when Bo-Katan starts showing up in more than one episode, at that point she’s no longer a cameo, but a secondary character. Bo-Katan is not a cameo, but a key part of the story. The two characters' tales intertwine with one another. If a famous character only appeared for a few seconds, then that is what truly defines a cameo.
Obviously, having no characters from previous installments is all fine and good too. Even when expanding the universe it’s important to keep expansions grounded in Star Wars. Because this is a living, breathing universe at the end of the day.
As the Star Wars universe expands, there are going to be cameos of familiar characters, but those familiar characters may also play a big role in the stories as well. Sometimes when a new character goes on a journey, they may run into a massively legendary character. If a character appears for a little while, then it’s a cameo, but if they are playing a natural part in the story, then perhaps that is more than just a regular cameo, maybe that is a budding secondary character in someone else's story. Sure it’s a big galaxy, but it’s also a galaxy connected by the Force.
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