The Star Wars franchise stands as one of the most iconic and culturally significant film series ever created, surpassing mainstream success to attain a unique and unparalleled status in the realm of media. Interestingly enough, Dev Patel was rejected from Star Wars in the past and now there are a few possible roles he might have auditioned for.
Many fans agree that the original Star Wars trilogy, comprising A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, stands out as the definitive trilogy within the entire saga. Its enduring influence is evident, as it continues to shape and inspire various forms of entertainment across all mediums even to this day.
Dev Patel Got Rejected For A Role In Star Wars
Dev Patel shared his experience with Total Film during The Green Knight press a few years ago, unveiling the challenges even someone with an extensive and impressive career, including films like Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, and The Personal History of David Copperfield, faced in securing a role in Star Wars.
“I don’t know if you’re allowed to talk about it, because you sign an NDA. But yeah, I think everyone did. Everyone auditioned for Star Wars. I remember, I think I was doing Marigold 2, and I sent them an iPhone video from my trailer in India. The next minute, I got a call-back, and I was there, and that was fascinating.”
Patel mentioned the audition process and the secrecy surrounding it due to non-disclosure agreements. Despite the hurdles, Patel recounted sending an iPhone video from his trailer in India during the audition for Marigold 2 and receiving a callback, leading to his fascinating journey into the Star Wars universe.
3 Roles Dev Patel Might Have Auditioned For Before Getting Rejected
Unfortunately, one of the significant details Patel omitted was the identity of the project he was auditioning for. In some instances, actors are unaware that they are auditioning for a project like Star Wars, making it unclear which role they are auditioning for. However, in Patel’s case, there are indications that suggest potential clues about the role he may have been considered for.
As pointed out by Movieweb, Dev Patel’s film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, was released in 2015, coinciding with the premiere of The Force Awakens. This temporal alignment raises the possibility that Patel was in consideration for auditions related to the new characters that Lucasfilm was actively seeking for Episode VII. While he never took part in a Star Wars film at the time, that doesn’t mean he can’t ever join the universe in the future.
1) Finn
Finn, portrayed by John Boyega, was introduced in The Force Awakens back in 2015 and was a First Order stormtrooper before leaving that life behind to join forces with Rey Skywalker and the members of The Resistance. The versatile nature of Dev Patel’s acting skills could have made him a suitable candidate for this pivotal role.
2) Poe
Poe Dameron was portrayed by Oscar Isaac and he was also introduced in The Force Awakens back in 2015 as one of the major characters in the film. His swashbuckling nature is certainly something that Dev Patel could have done.
3) General Hux
General Armitage Hux was portrayed by Domhnall Gleeson and was a high-ranking military leader of the First Order’s armed forces. This kind of role would have been very easy for Dev Patel, as he already portrayed a similar role as Prince Zuko in The Last Airbender.
