DJ

"It's all a machine, partner. Live free, don't join."

- DJ, explaining his life philosophy to Finn

"DJ," shortened form of "Don't Join," was a human male slicer who resided in the galaxy during the war between the Resistance and the First Order. An amoral thief, he spoke with a stutter but was also skilled at slicing into computer systems. His philosophy was influenced by his cynical views; he therefore believed that both sides in the conflict represented two halves of a system breeding corruption and greed.

At the time of the Resistance's evacuation from the base on D'Qar, DJ was residing on the planet Cantonica where he used his skills to steal money from the wealthy patrons of the Canto Bight casino city. He offered his assistance for a price to the Resistance operatives Finn and Rose Tico after learning about mission to recruit a codebreaker. Although he helped them infiltrate the First Order Navy flagship Supremacy, DJ chose to save his own life after they were captured by Captain Phasma and her stormtroopers.

Biography
"Good guys, bad guys, made-up words. Let's see who formerly owned this gorgeous hunk-uh. Ah, this guy was an arms dealer. Made his bank selling weapons to the bad guys. Oh&hellip; And the good."

- DJ, to Finn

The man known as "DJ" lived during the era of the New Republic. A thief as well as a slicer, he would use his skills to steal money from the wealthy patrons of Canto Bight, a city located on the desert world of Cantonica, known for its casinos and racetracks. During his time there, DJ played a game. After winning a game, DJ gave most of his winnings to a dealer.

Aiding & betraying the Resistance
Following the Hosnian Cataclysm and the Battle of Starkiller Base in 34 ABY, two Resistance operatives&mdash;the technician Rose Tico and a stormtrooper defector known as Finn&mdash;and the droid BB-8 traveled to Canto Bight in search of a slicer who could neutralize the technology which enabled the First Order to track the Resistance fleet through Hyperspace. However, they were arrested by the Canto Bight Police Department and locked in a prison cell with DJ, whose assistance they ultimately accepted after failing to enlist the support of the Master Codebreaker.

After escaping from Cantonica on the stolen yacht Libertine, DJ requested Tico's gold pendant as payment upfront for his services. Finn was opposed to the price, knowing its sentimental value to Tico, but Tico accepted his condition so that the slicer would help their cause. With DJ's help, they infiltrated the First Order Navy flagship Supremacy which contained the tracking system they sought to disable. Disguised in the uniforms of First Order officers, the infiltrators made their way to the target area where DJ used Tico's pendant to disable a locked door before returning the item to her. At that moment, however, the trio was surrounded by Captain Phasma's troopers, having been detected aboard the warship by the droid BB-9E.

The prisoners were taken to the main hangar, where DJ revealed to Finn and Tico that he had traded information about the Resistance&mdash;including their plan to escape to the planet Crait&mdash;to General Armitage Hux in exchange for his freedom and a large sum of money. He then departed from the Supremacy with his reward, leaving his one-time allies to be executed on Phasma's orders. Ultimately, Finn and Tico were both able to survive as a result of the sacrifice made by Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, ramming the Resistance flagship Raddus through the Supremacy at hyperspeed.

Personality and traits
"They blow you up today, you blow them up tomorrow. It's just business."

- DJ, to Finn

As an exceptional slicer and unscrupulous thief, DJ always marauded in the shadows at Canto Bight, frequently stealing the things he needed. He could effortlessly pick the lock to a jail cell or open a sealed door by using a piece of gold. According to DJ's personal philosophy, the only way to live a free existence was to not choose a side. He was resolute in his opinions and refused to join the First Order or the Resistance as their rivalry escalated into open war. He regarded neither side as good or evil, believing that both factions were part of a system built on greed and corruption.

Although he refused to join a side in the conflict, DJ was capable of working with either faction if it suited his interests. He helped the Resistance in their attempt to disable General Hux's tracking system, but ultimately turned against them by cooperating with the First Order in return for his life and the compensation of a reward. To bind one's self to any cause, DJ believed, would ultimately lead to their downfall.

DJ was a human male with black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. His philosophy&mdash;encapsulated in the motto "DON'T JOIN"&mdash;was etched into a plate adorning his hat.

Behind the scenes
"Maybe you could find him in a Bob Dylan song or a Tom Waits song. Or maybe in a Dostoyevsky novel. You'll find DJ in one of those stories. You don't know what he is. But that's the idea... You don't know if he's good or bad."

- Benicio Del Toro on DJ

DJ is a character portrayed by Benicio Del Toro who first appeared in the 2017 film Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi. Del Toro was previously cast as Darth Maul in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, but left the project after George Lucas cut unceremoniously the majority of Maul's lines, allowing Ray Park and Peter Serafinowicz to be cast. Writer/director Rian Johnson considered using Lando Calrissian to fill the character's role in the story, but reasoned that Calrissian had more firm moral convictions and wouldn't outright betray the heroes.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Last Jedi–DJ: Most Wanted
 * Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi
 * The Last Jedi: Rose and Finn's Secret Mission