While *Star Wars* has made many actors famous – think Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, and Daisy Ridley – several well-known Hollywood stars actually turned down roles in the films. From the original *Star Wars: A New Hope* in 1977 to *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* in 2019, the franchise has been a launching pad for careers, but many fans don’t realize the iconic roles could have gone to other performers. Over the years, numerous famous actors were considered for parts but ultimately decided not to join the saga.
The following 10 actors have revealed that they turned down roles in Star Wars movies.
10) Mikey Madison
Shortly after winning an Oscar for her leading role in a film, Mikey Madison was offered a significant part in the upcoming movie *Star Wars: Starfighter* (scheduled for release in 2027). However, Madison decided not to accept the role, meaning she won’t be acting alongside Ryan Gosling in director Shawn Levy’s film. While the reason for her decision remains unknown, turning down the *Star Wars* project frees up her schedule for other commitments. Madison is currently set to star in Charlie Polinger’s adaptation of *Masque of the Red Death* and will also appear in Aaron Sorkin’s *The Social Reckoning*, so fans will have new projects to look forward to soon.
9) Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman initially signed on to provide the voice for General Grievous in the 2005 film *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith*. However, he had to withdraw from the project because the film wasn’t being produced under Screen Actors Guild regulations. To avoid breaking union rules, Oldman left after completing his voice recording.
Gary Oldman recalled a role he played in Star Wars, mentioning it might have been General Grievous. He explained that the situation involved a conflict between union and non-union work, and he didn’t want to be seen as someone who was going against union regulations, as reported on the *Happy Sad Confused* podcast.
Matthew Wood ultimately voiced General Grievous in the film and did a great job, but it’s still interesting to wonder how Gary Oldman’s take on the character would have sounded.
8) Sylvester Stallone
Many Star Wars enthusiasts don’t know that Sylvester Stallone actually auditioned for the role of Han Solo in the original movies. The actor later confessed he intentionally gave a bad audition, feeling he didn’t fit the character’s appearance. He shared the story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining what he told director George Lucas.
The actor explained, “Look, it’s simple. I wouldn’t be believable in a spacesuit—I just don’t have the right look for that kind of role. I understand why they wouldn’t cast me.”
As a lifelong movie fan, it’s pretty clear to me that Harrison Ford was *born* to play Han Solo. He just brought this incredible cool factor and action-hero energy to the role, and it really cemented him as a legend. And it’s amazing to look at what Stallone has done since then, especially becoming synonymous with Rocky. Honestly, it feels like a total win-win for both of them – the films got two iconic stars, and they both launched into even bigger things.
7) Benicio Del Toro
Benicio Del Toro is known for playing DJ in *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* (2017), but there were past reports that he almost had a much larger role in the *Star Wars* prequel films. It was said he was considered for the part of Darth Maul in *Star Wars: The Phantom Menace* (1999). However, he apparently turned it down when the character’s screen time was cut. Del Toro has since said he only remembers being in one *Star Wars* movie – the one he actually filmed – which casts doubt on the rumors. Fans still appreciate Ray Park’s performance as Darth Maul, along with Peter Serafinowicz’s voice work for the character. Del Toro eventually joined the *Star Wars* universe later in his career, and he’s also starred in acclaimed films like *Sicario* (2015) and *One Battle After Another* (2025).
6) Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara decided not to take the role of Jyn Erso in the 2016 film *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* after discussing it with the director, Gareth Edwards.
Mara explained to *Deadline* that she had a good initial meeting with the director of a project, but ultimately chose not to audition. She was busy with other work at the time and felt it wasn’t the right fit for her schedule.
Once Mara decided not to pursue the part of Erso, Felicity Jones was chosen for the role. Audiences praised Jones’s strong performance in *Rogue One*, which is still a fan favorite among Star Wars films. Although *Rogue One* wasn’t the right fit for Mara, she’s since proven her acting skills in movies like *A Ghost Story* (2017), *Nightmare Alley* (2021), and *Women Talking* (2022).
5) Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender, known for his captivating presence and strong performances, almost appeared in a *Star Wars* film. He shared in 2017 that he had discussions with director J.J. Abrams about a role in *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015).
Fassbender mentioned they discussed a possible part for him. He recalled having a conversation about it, but believes he was already committed to another project at the time the film was starting up.
Fassbender didn’t say which character he was considered for, but fans think he might have been up for the roles of Kylo Ren or General Hux. Sadly, he hasn’t appeared in any *Star Wars* films yet, even though his acting skills and experience in action movies would make him a great fit for the franchise. Hopefully, Lucasfilm will consider him again and find a suitable role for him in the future.
4) Al Pacino
I always find it amazing to learn about casting choices that *almost* happened! Apparently, Al Pacino was offered the role of Han Solo before *A New Hope* came out. Can you believe that? He was already becoming a huge star thanks to movies like *The Godfather*, *Serpico*, and *The Godfather Part II* – he was seriously in demand. But even with a really good offer on the table, he just didn’t feel like Star Wars was the right fit for him. It’s wild to think how different things could have been!
Al Pacino revealed in 2023 that he was offered the lead role in *Star Wars* early in his career, when studios often gave him challenging roles simply because he was the new, popular actor. He remembers being sent the *Star Wars* script and offered a significant amount of money, but he ultimately turned it down. Looking back, he jokingly credits his decision with launching Harrison Ford’s career.
Al Pacino didn’t fully understand the complex world of Star Wars, which ultimately helped Harrison Ford become famous for playing Han Solo. Pacino later jokingly shared why he turned down the role.
Al Pacino initially wondered if he was simply losing his touch. He shared the script with a trusted friend and mentor, Charlie Loughton, hoping for insight. However, Loughton admitted he didn’t understand it either. Pacino confessed he felt the same way, and despite a generous offer, he knew he couldn’t take on a role he didn’t fully connect with. He explained he needs to understand the material to portray a character convincingly.
Honestly, looking at Al Pacino’s incredible career, it’s pretty clear he hasn’t suffered at all from *not* being in Star Wars. So, I doubt he spends much time wondering ‘what if’ about turning down the role of Han Solo. He’s done just fine, to say the least!
3) Jodie Foster
Princess Leia is one of the most popular characters from the Star Wars saga, and Carrie Fisher’s performance is a huge reason why. Interestingly, Jodie Foster was originally considered for the role. She had to turn down the part in *A New Hope* because of a previous acting commitment, as she shared with Jimmy Fallon on *The Tonight Show* in 2024.
Jodie Foster confirmed she was offered the part of Princess Leia. However, she had a scheduling conflict with a Disney film she was already committed to, and decided to stay with that project instead.
While Star Wars fans love Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, some have often wondered what Jodie Foster would have been like in the role. Star Wars could have been a big boost to Foster’s career, but she’s already built an amazing resume with critically acclaimed films like *The Accused* (1988) and *The Silence of the Lambs* (1991). The two-time Oscar winner would have likely excelled in the Star Wars universe, but ultimately, her career has been incredibly successful as it is.
2) Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell is unique among the actors on this list because he auditioned for two different roles in Star Wars: Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. When it became clear he wouldn’t get either part, he chose to star in another movie instead.
Russell admitted he was unprepared for his audition. He vaguely remembered something about the Death Star and the Millennium Falcon. He was a finalist, but he also had to consider another offer – a western show from ABC. He asked George Lucas if he’d be cast, and Lucas seemed unsure about pairing him with the other actors. Ultimately, Russell chose to do the western, and he believes it was the right decision.
Russell is a well-known actor in Westerns and science fiction, and many believe he would have been a great fit for the roles of Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. Though he turned down a part in *Star Wars*, he’s enjoyed a successful career with memorable performances in films like *The Thing* (1982) and *The Hateful Eight* (2015).
1) Leonardo DiCaprio
Hayden Christensen is so strongly associated with the role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels that it’s hard to picture anyone else in the part. Interestingly, Leonardo DiCaprio – who’s never been in a major film series – was actually considered for the role. He revealed in 2017 that he’d met with George Lucas about playing Anakin, but didn’t feel prepared to commit at the time.
Leonardo DiCaprio made a smart choice by passing on a role in Star Wars. He went on to star in acclaimed films directed by legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino. While his career might have taken a different path if he’d joined the Star Wars prequels, DiCaprio didn’t need the franchise to become a major Hollywood star, and Star Wars ultimately found the right actor for Anakin Skywalker in Hayden Christensen.
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2025-10-10 01:14