Many fans would recognize Kurt Russell from Guardians of the Galaxy as Ego the Living Planet, but did you know that he almost joined the Star Wars franchise? Rumors say that he was offered a role, and he declined it, a statement the actor firmly debunked.
It would be intriguing, though, to imagine Russell in Star Wars playing Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, both parts he actually auditioned for. Perhaps it was not really for him because the circumstances at that time were not in his favor.
Kurt Russell Almost Teamed Up With George Lucas On Star Wars
During a conversation with The Daily Beast, actor Kurt Russell shared that he tried for both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker parts, but at the same time, another potential project was also lined up for him.
“Both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. That was back in the day when all the usual suspects in their twenties would roll in there, and it was early 1976 because at the same time was a television Western called The Quest that they were offering me. I really loved the part.”
In order for him to come to a decision, he asked director George Lucas if he had a chance to be part of the Star Wars team, to which the filmmaker regretfully replied in the negative.
“It came down to these things, and I was in there on Star Wars and remember asking 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.’ ”
He could not waste any more of his or Lucas’ time so he chose to accept the other Western project.
Kurt Russell Debunked Rumors Of Him Dismissing Star Wars Role
In the same interview with The Daily Beast, Russell busted the rumor that he rejected Star Wars. Of course, when his name has been attached to it because of his audition, many fans believed he would snag the part.
“The rumor is that I ‘turned down Star Wars,’ and I didn’t turn down Star Wars. But that’s the fun history of that. You know, it was pretty fun because George taped it, and I had no idea what I was saying. I’m talking about a Millennium Falcon and however long it took to get from here to there and the Death Star.”
Good thing there’s an audition tape to prove that he actually wanted to join Star Wars, but it was probably not meant for him. It’s also difficult to imagine Russell playing Han Solo or Luke Skywalker knowing Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill did a fantastic job portraying those coveted roles.
Russell’s 1976 series The Quest received a 7.1/10 score on IMDb, but it did not leave a lasting impact on the audience. Star Wars, on the other hand, became a global phenomenon, and it changed the world of pop culture.
All Star Wars movies are available to stream on Disney+.
