Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
TheStar Warsfranchise 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 ofStar Warscontinues 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 inStar 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 WarsRole?
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 thatGeorge Lucaswas initially on the hunt for an American actor to bring the wise and enigmatic Qui-Gon Jinn to life inStar Wars: The Phantom Menace(viaScreen Rant).
“I didn’t even know what the word ‘Trekkie’ meant”: How a $219M Tom Hanks Movie Landed Zoe Saldaña Her Star Trek Role
The air was thick with speculation; the names Kurt Russell, Kyle MacLachlan, andTom 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 forThe Phantom Menace“would have been bigger than the movie, and I do not think he wanted that”(perRolling Stone).
In the 1990s,Hanks won back-to-backOscars forForrest GumpandPhiladelphia. In addition to winning Academy Awards, he starred in huge box office successes, includingA League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, andSaving 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 thisStar Warsuniverse. In addition tobeing 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 outfor the prequel trilogy, we do know that his sonColin Hanksdid audition to play Anakin Skywalker!
During a 2008 interview withNew 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 theStar Warssaga in this intriguing what-if scenario. But alas, it seems like fate had other plans for the Hanks family.
Tom Hanks Turned Down the Offer That Made Keanu Reeves One of the Biggest Action Stars of Hollywood
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 Warsuniverse 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 Warsis streaming on Disney+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
