The Star Wars franchise is known for its iconic characters, epic battles, and intricate storylines. But what if we told you that Tom Hanks and his son Colin Hanks almost had a place in that galaxy far, far away?
As the star-studded universe of Star Wars continues to draw in audiences through its galactic tales, isn’t it intriguing to imagine Tom Hanks, the embodiment of American cinema charm, donned the robes of Qui-Gon Jinn? Well, rumors have long circulated that the actor was considered for the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, before Liam Neeson eventually got the role.
And to add an even more interesting twist to the story, his son auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy.
Unveiling the Untold Story: Tom Hanks’ Near-Star Wars Role?
Did you know that before the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn found his form in the towering presence of Liam Neeson, the whispers of Hollywood told a different tale? Indeed, long-running rumors suggest that George Lucas was initially on the hunt for an American actor to bring the wise and enigmatic Qui-Gon Jinn to life in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (via Screen Rant).
The air was thick with speculation; the names Kurt Russell, Kyle MacLachlan, and Tom Hanks, floated amidst fan musings and industry chatter alike. This was later backed up by comments made by Ahmed Best in 2015, who stated that some of the names mentioned for The Phantom Menace “would have been bigger than the movie, and I do not think he wanted that” (per Rolling Stone).
In the 1990s, Hanks won back-to-back Oscars for Forrest Gump and Philadelphia. In addition to winning Academy Awards, he starred in huge box office successes, including A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, and Saving Private Ryan. It came as no surprise that Lucas was allegedly considering casting Hanks in one of his flicks, as he was at the time one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
While the rumor mills churned out whispers and ‘what-ifs’, Colin Hanks experienced a brush with this Star Wars universe. In addition to being Tom Hanks’ son, the actor, who is best known for his roles in King Kong (2005), The House Bunny (2008), and Gus Grimly in Fargo (2014–2015), was also considered to play Anakin Skywalker.
Colin Hanks to play Darth Vader?: A Look Back at the Audition Process
Although there is no proof that Tom Hanks tried out for the prequel trilogy, we do know that his son Colin Hanks did audition to play Anakin Skywalker!
During a 2008 interview with New York Daily News, Colin Hanks divulged a snippet of his encounter with the might-have-been of interstellar casting. Though he was cut short in the casting process, he hilariously disclosed that the only press clipping he ever thought of hanging on his “fridge” was the one about him being the front-runner for the role of “Darth Vader”.
I met with a casting director, along with every other actor in my age group. That was it. But I did know the actor who was auditioning after me, and he mentioned it [to a reporter], and suddenly they were saying ‘Tom Hanks’ son in the running to play Darth Vader!’ That might be the only press clipping I ever put up on my fridge.
A whole new level of complexity could’ve been added to the Star Wars saga in this intriguing what-if scenario. But alas, it seems like fate had other plans for the Hanks family.
While Colin Hanks has carved out his own successful acting career with roles in popular TV shows and movies, the idea of him potentially joining the Star Wars universe is an intriguing possibility. Who knows what might’ve happened if things had worked out differently?
And who knows, maybe one day we’ll see a Hanks family reunion in a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars is streaming on Disney+.
