13 Actors Who Had been Virtually Solid in ‘Star Wars’—Together with a Few Oscar Winners

It’s arduous to image any actor apart from Harrison Ford as Han Solo…or Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia…or Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, however there have been different actors who auditioned or refused roles in Star Wars. In truth, a number of Oscar winners had been provided components within the now-iconic sci-fi franchise—solely to show them down, so actors like Ford, Fisher and Hamill might turn into the family names we all know at present.

With 9 fundamental Star Wars movies (and a handful of others), there have been a number of roles to fill within the galaxy far, distant. And if we’ve discovered something from the Star Wars sequel trilogy (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker premieres Dec. 20, simply FYI), it’s that the inventive minds behind the franchise like to solid unknowns. We wouldn’t have Daisy Ridley, John Boyega or Kelly Marie Tran with out them.

As for the OG actors, Hamill instructed The New York Occasions in 2017 that he nearly turned down an opportunity to reprise his function as Luke Skywalker in 2015’s The Drive Awakens. “I believed, why mess with it? The concept of catching lightning in a bottle twice was ridiculously distant,” he stated. “Nobody needs to see the 50-, 60-, 70-year-old variations of us, operating round, bumping heads on the Loss of life Star. It’s unhappy.” In truth, all three OGs returned for the primary movie within the sequel trilogy to carry again full-on nostalgia. “Are you able to think about if I used to be the one one to say no?” Hamill instructed The New York Occasions. “I’d be essentially the most hated man in nerd-dom.”

In honor of the top of one other Star Wars trilogy, we rounded up the actors chances are you’ll not have recognized had been nearly solid in Star Wars. Discover out who they’re forward.

Al Pacino as Han Solo

Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock.

Al Pacino as Han Solo? The Oscar winner, who’s finest recognized for his function in The Godfather, instructed followers at an Night With Pacino occasion in 2013 that he was provided the function of Han Solo within the first Star Wars movie in 1977 however handed as a result of he didn’t join with the story.

“It was mine for the taking however I didn’t perceive the script,” he stated.

Picture: Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos.

Burt Reynolds as Han Solo

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Reynolds instructed Enterprise Insider in 2016 that he was additionally provided the function of Han Solo however turned it down as a result of he didn’t assume the half was proper for that point in his profession.

“I simply didn’t wish to play that type of function on the time,” he stated. “Now I remorse it. I want I might have finished it.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Sylvester Stallone as Han Solo

Picture: Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP/Shutterstock.

In an interview on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014, Stallone revealed that he auditioned for Han Solo. In the long run, Stallone instructed director George Lucas and different producers that the movie wasn’t a match for him.

“Let me simply make it straightforward for you,” Stallone stated he instructed Lucas. “I might appear like crap in spandex leotards and a ray gun. Guys in house don’t have this face. I get it.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Kurt Russell as Luke Skywalker

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Russell instructed USA Right this moment in 2017 that he was within the remaining spherical to play both Luke Skywalker or Han Solo however dropped out of the method to star in ABC’s The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, a western present that solely ran for one season.

“[I was] interviewing for the a part of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. On tape, it exists,” he stated. “I didn’t have any concept what I used to be speaking about. One thing a few Loss of life Star and a Millennium Falcon. I used to be really fairly [close], within the remaining operating, however I wanted to offer a solution to ABC to do a western present.”

He continued, “I requested George, ‘Do you assume you’re gonna use me?’ He stated, ‘I don’t know if I wish to put you with him, or these two guys collectively.’ I received to go to work, so I did the western. Clearly, made the proper selection.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Jodie Foster as Princess Leia

Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock.

Foster was as younger as 14 when she was requested to play Princess Leia Organa within the first Star Wars movie. The actress instructed Whole Movie in 2005 that she handed on the function due to her busy schedule on the time. “I used to be doing two movies back-to-back on the time,” she stated. “It could have been enjoyable. However my profession would have been totally different, and I’m proud of the one I’ve received so I don’t actually remorse it.”

She continued, “And truthfully, I used to be 14 or 15 on the time and it was after they had been nonetheless conceiving these characters as very younger. By the point they received to creating it, they’d a very totally different conception of the movie.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Anakin Skywalker

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DiCaprio was an “It” boy when Hayden Christensen debuted as Anakin Skywalker in 2002’s Star Wars: Assault of the Clones. He instructed Brief Listing in 2015 that he met with Lucas over the half however, in the long run, turned it down.

“[I] simply didn’t really feel able to take that dive,” DiCaprio stated. “At that time.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Ryan Phillippe as Anakin Skywalker

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Phillippe instructed MTV Information in 2008 that he auditioned with Natalie Portman (who performed Padmé Amidala) for the a part of Anakin Skywalker however wasn’t in the end chosen.

“I learn with Natalie Portman,” he stated. “I feel it was form of an age factor of their thoughts. It wasn’t fairly proper, however yeah, they had been .”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Rooney Mara as Jyn Erso

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Mara instructed Deadline in 2016 that she met with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards for the a part of Jyn Erso, who was performed by Felicity Jones. Ultimately, she selected to drop out of the method due to her schedule.

“I met with the director, and I actually appreciated him, however then I didn’t find yourself studying for it. I used to be working and it wasn’t the proper factor for me, so I made a decision to not learn for it,” she stated.

Picture: Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos.

Saoirse Ronan as Rey

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Ronan instructed Empire in 2013 that she auditioned for a component in Star Wars: The Drive Awakens. Although she didn’t specify the character she auditioned for, Ronan revealed that one of many scenes concerned taking a lightsaber out of bag, which one thing that Rey (Daisy Ridley) did within the film.

“Everybody has auditioned for it,” she stated. “So many individuals I do know have gone in for the half I’ve gone in for, and guys who’ve gone in for a selected half, so I’d think about J.J. [Abrams] might be simply scanning the earth to seek out the those who one wants, however no one has a clue what it’s about, and no one’s learn the script.”

She continued, “I feel it’s the one time I’ve ever thought, ‘You realize what? Even when I don’t get it, I had a lot enjoyable auditioning, pretending to take out a lightsaber out of a bag, type of examine it, and never know what it’s.’”

Picture: Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos.

Eddie Redmayne as Kylo Ren

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In an interview with Uproxx in 2016, Redmayne revealed that he auditioned for villain Kylo Ren, who’s performed by Adam Driver. He instructed the publication that he flubbed the audition after placing on a “ridiculous” accent.

“So, I used to be going for, I feel, for Adam Driver. They gave me like a Star Trek scene—or like one thing from Pleasure and Prejudice,” he stated. “It was a type of movies. With movies that high secret, they don’t provide the precise strains. So they offer you a scene from Pleasure and Prejudice, however then they let you know you’re auditioning for the baddie. When you’re me, you then put some ridiculous voice on.”

Redmayne continued, “That was actually a hilarious second. As a result of it was Nina Gold, who I’ve to thank quite a bit as a result of she’s solid me in a number of movies. And she or he was simply sitting there and I used to be attempting many times with totally different variations of my type of ‘koohh paaaah’ [Darth Vader breathing sound] voice. And after like ten pictures she’s like, ‘You bought anything?’ I used to be like, ‘No.’”

Picture: Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos.

Michael Jackson as Jar Jar Binks

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So, Jackson was by no means thought of for Jar Jar Binks however the singer actually wished to play the character. Ahmed Finest, who voiced the character within the Star Wars movies, instructed Vice in 2015 that Jackson wished to play Jar Jar by way of prosthetics, hair and make-up fairly by way of CGI, which is how the character ultimately made it on display screen.

“Me, Natalie Portman, and George’s youngsters—we had been at Wembley enviornment at Michael Jackson’s live performance. We had been taken backstage and we met Michael,” Finest stated. “George launched me as ‘Jar Jar’ and I used to be like, ‘That’s type of bizarre.’”

Finest then requested Lucas why he launched him to Jackson as Jar Jar. “He stated, ‘Effectively, Michael wished to do the half however he wished to do it in prosthetics and make-up like ‘Thriller,’” Finest stated. “George wished to do it in CGI. My guess is in the end Michael Jackson would have been greater than the film, and I don’t assume he wished that.”

Picture: twentieth Century Fox.

Michael B. Jordan as Poe Dameron or Finn

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Jordan confirmed to The Huffington Submit in 2013 that he auditioned for The Drive Awakens. The actor didn’t specify which character he performed, however contemplating there have been two new male leads within the movie, followers suspect that the half was both Poe or Finn.

“I imply, everyone’s stepping into on this challenge. They’re attempting to determine what they need. That’s one other unimaginable franchise. It’s fairly loopy!” Jordan stated.

He continued, “We’ll see the way it occurs. I don’t understand how I can do every little thing.”

Picture: Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos.

Jesse Plemons as Basic Hux

Picture: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP/Shutterstock.

Plemons instructed Vulture in 2016 that he auditioned for a job within the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The actor stated he didn’t make it past the primary audition however nonetheless had individuals congratulating him as if he received the function. He didn’t specify what the character was, however followers speculate that it was Basic Hux, performed by Domhnall Gleeson.

“Even after the film was filmed, I might get calls from individuals like, ‘Heard about Star Wars, congratulations!’ It’s like, ‘You heard some totally different info…’ Plemons stated.

He continued, “I had gone in and browse, after which I used to be going to fulfill J.J. Abrams, after which, unexpectedly, it was launched that I used to be going to do it. I’d solely auditioned as soon as, and I hadn’t even met him but. In order that was weird as a result of I heard from everybody. I’m like, ‘No. No, no, no. Cease it.’”