Is a film ever “perfect?” Would it be more or less perfect if it remained identical, but one iconic role was played by a different actor? In a parallel universe, would that film be just as good? Could it be even better?
Thanks to our enduring enthusiasm, we now more about the pre-production, production, and politics of Star Wars than we do about any other movie. We know how the special effects were achieved, we know how many drafts the script when through, we know about the arduous editing process on the first film, and we know exactly which shots were altered and digitally enhanced in the now-standard “Special Editions.” Some would say this abundance of background knowledge takes away a lot of the magic of watching the movie, but the film has saturated pop culture so entirely, it could be argued that knowing about the film is almost more important than seeing it. Nowadays, you can spend more time researching Star Wars than actually watching it.
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And let it not be forgotten that trivia is fun. Learning about your object of affection can, in a way, enhance the experience of watching it. Finding out about minutiae in the production process can, for the extreme fan, make one feel like a part of it. You know the forbidden, obscure knowledge, and that puts you one vicarious step closer to being on the set during the inception of it.
So let us now revel in the obscure trivia. We know who went in for auditions, but who never got the coveted roles in this sci-fantasy tentpole. Let us explore some of these actors who came this close to being the face of your favorite Star Wars characters.
Slideshow: The Almost Stars of ‘Star Wars’
Top Images: Avco Embassy Pictures / 20th Century Fox
Witney Seibold is a contributor to the CraveOnline Film Channel, and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. You can follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
Almost Stars of Star Wars
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Sylvester Stallone as Han Solo
Sly did indeed audition for the role of Han Solo, and picturing the wise-cracking jet pilot as something more of a Rocky-like lummox is amusing to ponder. Stallone was, however, quickly looked over by George Lucas, and he never got a callback.
Photo – United Artists
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Ryan Phillippe as Anakin Skywalker
When Attack of the Clones was in production, there was a bitter fight in Hollywood as to who would play the young Darth Vader, in the pre-mask days. The pouty-lipped Ryan Phillippe was already a known quantity in the biz, and got so far as readings with other actors, before he lost the role to Hayden Christiansen. Phillippe may have been too young, or perhaps not “dark” enough.
Photo – Columbia Pictures
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James Woods as Han Solo
Harrison Ford may be irreplaceable in people's minds as Han Solo, but James Woods would have, I think, been an improvement. Han Solo is a flip, wisecracker, right? Who better to give off a cynical attitude than the excellent James Woods? He auditioned for the role, but was turned down.
Photo – Universal Pictures
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Karen Allen as Princess Leia
Why she was not hired is anyone's guess, but Karen Allen – pre-Animal House – did indeed audition to play Princess Leia, long before she entered the action/adventure canon as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I feel she would have made a more human, earthier version of the character, as Carrie Fisher is, comparatively, daintier and prettier.
Picture - Paramount
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Kurt Russell as Han Solo
One can find video evidence of Kurt Russell's audition online, meaning he came close to landing the role of Han Solo. I adore Kurt Russell, as does every right-thinking person, but his audition was a bit awkward, and he is perhaps too genial and heroic to be the cynical sidekick of the series.
Photo – Columbia Pictures
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P.J. Soles as Princess Leia
There was once a rumor that Carrie Fisher was up for the P.J. Soles role in Brian De Palma's Carrie, and Soles was up for Princess Leia, but Fisher was rejected on account of nudity. Fisher would have done the nudity, however, and the rumors are not true. The spunky Soles, however, did audition for Princess Leia. Had she landed the part, it would have made for a very different movie.
Photo – New World Pictures
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Robert Englund as Han Solound
Yes, there was a time when Robert Englund was not known for horror, and was merely a struggling actor just like all his contemporaries. Englund auditioned for Solo, but was considered too young for the part, and perhaps not '70s dashing enough. Legend has it, though, that it was Englund who encouraged Mark Hamill for the role of Luke Skywalker.
Photo – Mars Productions Corporation
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Mel Blanc as C-3PO
The famed voice of Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, and a thousand others was once considered to dub over C-3PO's lines the same way James Earl Jones dubbed over David Prowse for Darth Vader. Blanc was, and is, a legend in the voice acting world, and there's no doubt he could have come up with an iconic and great vice for the fey robot. Lucas eventually let actor Anthony Daniels read his own lines.
Photo – public domain
