Temuera Morrison has congratulated Taika Waititi on the announcement of his writing and directing a Star Wars film and jokingly offered some casting advice.
The Once Were Warriors star reckons the Prime Minister should have a role.
"I think he should put Jacinda in the movie, for all the great work she's done. Princess Jacinda. She can be the new Princess Leia," Morrison told Newshub.
"And here's looking forward to a new Star Wars where we might see a planet full of Māori!"
Waititi appears to be a fan of Ardern, just as Morrison is - on Twitter this week, he acknowledged her leadership when Aotearoa marked zero new cases of COVID-19.
Morrison, who played Jango Fett in Episode II - Attack of the Clones, said he's "so proud" of Waititi.
The pair worked together in 2011 film Green Lantern, which starred Ryan Reynolds in the titular role.
Morrison couldn't stop smiling during his chat with Newshub, which he did on FaceTime from his self-isolation bubble in Rotorua.
"[He has a ] very relaxed style, very funny. Some people may think he's a little bit weird, but I just call him charismatic," Morrison said of Waititi.
"He's just a simple man from Waihau Bay. One minute he's shooting short films outside the Te Kaha pub, now he's shooting a big movie called Star Wars. What a journey - I'm just so proud of the brother.
"That journey from Two Cars, One Night - which also got Oscar recognition - all the way to a Star Wars movie [has happened because] he's worked very hard. He's tenacious.
"He's gotten noticed and he's put himself out there and he's very, very popular and very well liked in Hollywood."
Waititi's own Star Wars film was announced earlier this week to mark Star Wars Day, May 4. The Boy filmmaker can also be seen in Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, which was released on Disney Plus the same day.
