Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon famously began life as a gritty entry into the Star Wars universe, one that Snyder had been developing since before the IP was acquired by Disney. However, Rebel Moon and Star Wars might share more than just their inspiration from Samurai films.
Charlie Hunnam plays the character of Kai in Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. The character is very similar to Han Solo, but that is not the only connection Hunnam has to the Star Wars universe. The Pacific Rim actor was actually in the running to play a certain Chosen One in the Star Wars Universe, even having talked to George Lucas about the role.
Charlie Hunnam was in the running to play Anakin Skywalker
Hunnam had been in the running to play the role of Anakin Skywalker, a piece of trivia that he had completely forgotten about until it was brought up for his press tour for Rebel Moon with Entertainment Tonight. When asked about how far along the actor was to get the role, it seems that he came quite close to getting the role. The actor said:
“I got to the point where I was meeting George Lucas. I don’t think he meets a lot of actors. I think there were probably maybe two, three actors they were considering. I don’t remember much about it. I remember I was nervous and I was a little bit awkward, and I remember walking out and thinking, ‘Well, I’m definitely not getting that role.’ And I was correct.”
The role, of course, would eventually go to Hayden Christensen, who most recently reprised his role in Disney+’s Ahsoka, where the Jedi Knight would work towards training his once apprentice Ahsoka Tano to overcome her guilt surrounding her identity as a Jedi. Charlie Hunnam would have brought a completely different vibe to the character, one that would perhaps be too different one what we currently have of the character.
Anakin Skywalker wasn’t the only major role Charlie Hunnam almost got
Charlie Hunnam almost played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but that wasn’t the only role from a big franchise that the character almost played. Hunnam was also in the running to play Christian Grey, a role that he gave up due to his commitments to projects like the Sons of Anarchy.
Hunnam, while having played roles in films like Pacific Rim and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, we have yet to see Hunnam carry a franchise by himself. Fans have been clamouring to see the Rebel Moon alum play Green Arrow, a part that he has allegedly already turned down. Only time will tell if Hunnam will become the part of a franchise that he can successfully carry to box office success.
