Emma McIntyre/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Lionel Hahn/Getty Audiences were transported to Tatooine for the first time 48 years ago, whenStar Warswas released on May 25, 1977. Mark Hamill,Carrie FisherandHarrison Fordplayed the troublemaking trio of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo in the original trilogy — bringing to life what would become some of the most famous characters in film history. The actors who appear in the variousStar Warsmovies will always be known for their roles in the sci-fi franchise, but the final cast list for the characters was close to looking very different. So, who were some of the other people who auditioned for the various installments in the intergalactic epic? Here are 15 stars who almost hit hyperspace in theStar Warsfilm franchise. Donaldson Collection/Getty Kurt Russellnearly joined the Rebel Alliance as Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, since he was being considered for both roles. In a 2015 interview withThe Daily Beast, Russell recalled how it came down to choosing between starring in Star Wars or a new TV Western,The Quest. "I was in there onStar Warsand remember asking [Star Warscreator] George [Lucas] one day, 'Do you think you're going to use me or not?' And he said, 'I don't know which part I prefer you in. I don't know if I like you as Han and this guy as Skywalker, or this guy as Han and you as Skywalker. I don't know.' " After Lucas said he couldn't give Russell an answer, theOverboardactor said, " 'All right, I'm going to go take this Western and there will be one less guy to think about.' I don't know if he would've hired me." Lyvans Boolaky/Getty It's hard to imagine Leia being brought to life by anyone else besides Carrie Fisher, but the Princess of Alderaan was almost played by another young actress,Jodie Foster. "They were going for a younger Princess Leia but I had a conflict," theNyadstarconfirmedduring a January 2024 appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "I was doing a Disney movie and I just didn't want to pull out because I was already under contract," she continued. "So, I didn't do it and you know, they did an amazing job." "I don't know how good I would have been. I might have had different hair, you know. I might have gone with a pineapple," she joked, referring to Leia's now iconic hairstyle. Borja B. Hojas/Getty Robert Englundhas been literal nightmare fuel since he first played Freddy Krueger in 1984'sA Nightmare on Elm Street —but the horror actor was close to wielding a lightsaber instead of Freddy's blade gloves. Englund originally went in for an audition forApocalypse Now. He didn't get the part, but a casting director suggested him for a "space movie that they were casting across the hall." Recalling seeing the name "Luke Skywalker" on the audition pages, Englund remembered thinking, "What a name ... I'd never heard the name before, I didn't know what it meant, just the coolest name in the world, Luke Skywalker." As for the actual audition, Englund revealed, "All they did was take a polaroid of me." He didn't get the part, but he mentioned the role to his friend Mark Hamill, who called his agent, and the rest is Hollywood history. Marc Piasecki/WireImage Lady Bird almost had a lightsaber, becauseSaoirse Ronanauditioned forStar Wars: The Force Awakens. "Nobody has a clue what it's about, and nobody's read the script," she said in a 2013 interview onEmpiremagazine's podcast, looking back on her tryout. "So I've gone in and read for it, but I have to say, I think it's the only time I've ever thought, 'You know what? Even if I don't get it, I had so much fun auditioning," Ronan continued. "Pretending to take out a lightsaber — out of a bag, kind of inspect it and not know what it is." "That was great," she added. "A lightsaber!Star Wars!" Michael Ochs Archives/Getty During an interview,Sylvester Stallonelooked back on his awkward audition for Han Solo. He had just finished filmingRocky, and he went in to read for Han, but he knew pretty quickly he wasn't right for the role. "Let me just make it easy for you," Stallone recalled telling Lucas and the producers. "I would look like crap in spandex, leotards and a ray gun. Guys from space don't have this kind of face. I get it." Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Another actor who was considered for Han, the space scoundrel, wasBurt Reynolds, but theDeliverancestar turned down the offer. "I just didn't want to play that kind of role at the time," he toldBusiness Insiderin 2016. "Now I regret it. I wish I would have done it." Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Al Pacinowas also considered for Han Solo. "AfterThe Godfather, they would have let me play anything. They offered me the role of Han Solo inStar Wars,"he wrotein his 2024 memoir,Sonny Boy. "So, there I am, readingStar Wars." "I gave it to Charlie," he continued, referring to his friend and fellow actor, Charlie Laughton. "I said, 'Charlie, I can't make anything out of this.' He calls me back. 'Neither can I.' So I didn't do it." Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage Eddie Redmaynehas searched forFantastic Beasts, and even took the stage inCabaret— but he could have donned the mask of Kylo Ren. "With filmsthattop secret, they don't give you the actual lines," he toldUproxxin 2016, recalling his audition for playing theForce Awakensvillain. "So they give you a scene fromPride and Prejudice, but then they tell you you're auditioning for the baddie. If you'reme, you then put some ridiculous voice on." TheTheory of Everythingactor explained how he tried "different versions" of imitating Darth Vader's breathing, but ultimately didn't land the role of Han and Leia's dark-sided son. Araya Doheny/Getty Tom Hollanddidn't go from web-slinger to lightsaber. During a 2015 appearance onHot Ones, theSpider-Manstar revealed how he fumbled his audition for Finn inThe Force Awakensbecause he kept laughing while his scene partner played a droid. "I just got the giggles, because you know when you realize you've got something so wrong? I just couldn't stop laughing," said Holland. "I thinkJohn Boyegawas just better for the role than me." Michael Tullberg/Getty In a May 2025 interview withVariety,Ryan Phillippedescribed how he came close to playing adult Anakin inStar Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones. TheCruel Intentionactor's seven-year age difference withNatalie Portmantook him out of the running, however, and the part ultimately went toHayden Christensen. "Being a kid born in the '70s, I was like, 'What a dream that would've been,'" he said. Jeff Spicer/Getty Joseph Fiennescould have followedShakespeare in LovewithThe Phantom Menace. Ewan McGregorwore the robe of Obi-Wan Kenobi in theStar Warsprequel trilogy, but Fiennes also auditioned for the role. During a 2017 interview withThe Wrap, theHandmaid's Taleactor recalled reading for the part in front of Lucas and casting director Robin Gurland. At the audition, he met someone's young daughter, "a lovely, delightful child," he said. "Must've been around age 5 — and he introduced me, 'this is Joe and he's quite possibly Obi-Wan Kenobi." "His daughter turned around and said 'I don't like this guy. He's weird. I don't like him,' " he continued. "And that's how my audition went." Karwai Tang/WireImage Michael B. Jordan's audition forThe Force Awakensdidn't go well for the actor. "That was probably myworst auditionto date," theCreedstar said during a 2021 interview on theJust for Varietypodcast. "I couldn't wrap my brain around some of the sides, because when you're reading for these high-level projects, there's never really any specificity in the sides," he continued. "Everything's super vague, everything is secret." "Reading through, I just couldn't connect it. I definitely bombed that one, for sure," Jordan recalled. "I'm pretty sure I ran out of there, just like, 'See you guys. I'm out of here.' " Amy Sussman/Getty Brie Larsonhad the Death Star in her sights when she auditioned for a role in theStar Warsprequel,Rogue One. In July 2020, theCaptain Marvelactor was a guest onRogue Oneco-writer Gary Whitta'sAnimal Crossingtalk show,Animal Talking. During their conversation, Whitta brought up working on theStar Warsprequel, which Larson responded, "I auditioned for that! I didn't get it." The Walt Disney Company via Getty Topher Gracewas also considered to play adult Anakin inStar Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones. "At the time, someone had seen me in a school play, and I'd only been cast inThat '70s Show, and I thought, Oh my god, this is obviously meant to be," he said in a 2021Deadlineinterview. "I was there basically because my haircut looked like [Phantom Menaceactor] Jake Lloyd's, I think," he continued. "And I'd still love to be in aStar Warsmovie someday, but I can't imagine I'm the right guy for them. I guess I'll have to make do with riding the ride at Disneyland." Ron Eisenberg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Cindy Williamswas already a sitcom star onLaverne & Shirleywhenshe readfor the role of Princess Leia, but couldn't quite grasp the script's science-fiction-filled dialogue. "I knew I wasn't going to get it. I knew it was going to be someone younger than me," Williams said in a 2013Television Academy interview. "But you could never think of anyone else being Princess Leia, you just couldn't," she said of Fisher, who ultimately won the role. Williams, whodied in 2023, had previously worked with Lucas on his 1973 movie,American Graffiti. Read the original article onPeople
