Ray Park, who reprises the role of Darth Maul in Solo: A Star Wars Story, has responded to comments about his weight in the film.
The major shock present in Solo: A Star Wars Story was without question the cameo appearance of the former Sith Lord Darth Maul. While we didn’t get a full look at him in the film thanks to his hologram appearance, Lucasfilm has now released promo images of Park in full costume as the fan-favourite character.
The images have gotten a lot of fans excited but there has been a minority of comments criticising the 44-year-old Park for his weight. Ray Park wasn’t going to take this lying down, however, and posted his response to Instagram:
“Not that I NEED TO JUSTIFY THIS! I worked my butt off to play Maul in Solo even though I knew I had no action to do. I do take my character very SERIOUSLY. Seen a few fatty comments out there. Lol. Which I find very funny as hell. I really don’t care. I know there are a few people that have no clue what I do, or how it works. Please remember I was 22 on Episode I training 15 hrs a day. For Solo I was getting a good 3-4 hours in of training with a serious hip injury, I had been suffering from for a few years which prevented me from doing a lot of what I love with my workouts. And…. the makeup had a different aged effect and purpose which I’m not going into.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BniKykMhpi7/?hl=en&taken-by=iamraypark
It’s sad indeed that such comments exist and made their way to the actor. Hopefully, Park can see the mainly positive reaction to the images and his part in Solo. Who knows, perhaps it won’t be the last time we see him and Maul in a Star Wars movie.
SEE ALSO: Disney and Lucasfilm release the Darth Maul cameo from Solo: A Star Wars Story
A new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
Solo: A Star Wars Story features Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as the famous smuggler, Donald Glover (Atlanta) as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Tobias Beckett, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) as L3-37, Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as Qi’Ra, Thandie Newton (Westworld) as Val, Ian Kenny (Sing Street) as Rebolt, Harley Durst (Wonder Woman) as Moloch, Jon Favreau (Spider-Man: Homecoming) as Rio Durant, Paul Bettany (Avengers: Infinity War) as Dryden Vos and Warwick Davis (Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) as Weazel.
Originally published September 11, 2018. Updated July 19, 2024.
