For the original trilogy. Your goal is to have actors who are just as capable in 1977, but who will age more gracefully so as to have a more Hollywood-ideal appearance in the new glut of Star Wars movies.
Yeah, that’s an assholish premise, but I phrased it as delicately as possible. Look, I’m sure they’re both great, talented people and equally irreplaceable and fan favorites and blah blah – but you KNOW some Disney exec is looking at Harrison Ford and wishing the rest of cast could have aged as handsomely.
So, which two working actors could you get in 1977 that struck the genetic / lifestyle lottery age-wise?
If you say Donny and Marie, I will force choke you.
Part of Star Wars’ charm was that it was almost entirely unknown actors, or at least little-known, Alec Guinness aside. I’d far, far, far rather see any extension or recasting or reboot done with a search for exactly the right actors, rather than which stars of the week can be shoehorned into the roles. I think BSG is a good example: a complete re-imagining rather than a Psycho-like shot for shot remake. Or even trying to get an “unused footage” feel for new material. Start from the very good scratch and move on.
Gabriel Byrne, Ed Harris, and William Hurt are around the right age. All of them were unknowns just beginning their career in 1977.
Or how about Kurt Russell? He was an established teenage actor and 1977 was when he was trying to find more adult lead roles.
Christopher Reeve and Patrick Swayze were the right age.
And if you want to have continuity, there’s Liam Neeson. He was just starting his film career in 1977. (There’s something worth reflecting on for people my age. Luke Skywalker is nine months older than Qui-Gon Jinn.)