Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a 1999 movie directed and written by George Lucas. It’s a prequel to the Star Wars trilogy, which follows the story of two Jedi Knights who flee from the planet Naboo with Padme Amidala (planet Naboo’s queen) to resolve a trade dispute.
If you have seen this movie, you must remember Mace Windu — a revered Force-sensitive human male Jedi Master and a member of the Jedi High Council during the last years of the Republic Era in the Star Wars universe.
He is known for his unique purple-bladed lightsaber and was considered one of the most powerful Jedi of his time, second only to Yoda. His character was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, but you might not know that rapper Tupac Shakur had already read the role of Mace Windu before Jackson.
Tupac Shakur Was Almost Mace Windu Before Samuel L. Jackson
Tupac Shakur (the famous rapper and actor) was a major figure in 1990s gangsta rap. He holds a record in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling hip-hop artist, with over 73 million albums sold worldwide.
He dreamed of expanding his career into acting and even had ambitions of becoming a Jedi Knight in the Star Wars universe. As per Rick Clifford (Shakur’s former collaborator and the former Chief Engineer of Death Row Records), Shakur was supposed to take on the role of Mace Windu in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Speaking with 2-PacForum.com, Clifford revealed:
“[Tupac] was telling me that he was supposed to read for George Lucas and [Lucasfilm]. They wanted him to be a Jedi.”
But unfortunately, Shakur died at the age of 25 after a drive-by shooting in 1996 before ever getting a chance to audition in the Star Wars prequel. Later, his Juice co-star, Samuel L. Jackson, got the role instead.
How Did Samuel L. Jackson Secure the Role of Mace Windu?
During an interview with Vulture, Samuel L. Jackson shared his thoughts on how he got the opportunity to work with George Lucas.
Jackson portrayed the character of the Jedi master in all three of the Star Wars prequels, beginning with The Phantom Menace. His character was later killed off in Revenge of the Sith. The Kingsman: The Secret Service star said:
“Fortunately, I’ve been in the blockbuster business for a while. I remember I was on some British talk show and they asked me if there were any directors I wanted to work with I hadn’t worked with. I go, ‘Yeah, George Lucas. I’d love to be in a Star Wars movie.'”
Jackson’s dream of being in a Star Wars movie came true after publicly expressing his desire to work with George Lucas. Later, the actor received a call from the director himself, who then offered him the role of Mace Windu.
Source: 2-PacForum.com, Vulture
