# Recast the original Star Wars movies for a hypothetical remake. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537 "2005-05-19T04:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/1 "2005-05-19T04:59:42Z")
Inspired by **Lobsangs’** post in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=317219) about wanting to see a remake of the original SW triology. Ok, we all know a remake would suck but let’s pretend that the originals were never made and that Lucas is just now a young director with the story ideas and script drafts for Star Wars. It’s a brand new idea. Let’s also pretend that some studio has gone insane an given him an LOTR sized budget, so SFX won’t be an issue and we can pay for whatever cast we want. Who would you cast now for Luke, for Han Solo, for Leia, for Obi-Wan. for Vader, for the voice of C3PO, etc? Here’s mine: Luke: Keanu Reeves (natch) Han Solo: Johnny Depp Leia: Natalie Portman (remember, the prequels never existed). Obi-Wan: Patrick Stewart Darth Vader: Mickey Rourke (I think he’s “big” enough as an actor to make it work in the costume and I think he could come up with a cool voice. If you’ve seen \*Sin City[/i[, you’ll understand where I’m coming from). Voice of C3PO: Chris Rock (just kidding…Alan Rickman) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/2 "2005-05-19T11:39:36Z")
😃 Grace Jones—as Darth Vader. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/3 "2005-05-19T12:08:58Z")
I’d cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Luke and Natalie Portman as Leia. Patrick Stewart is brillant for Darth Vader. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/4 "2005-05-19T12:11:17Z")
Christopher Walken as the Emperor. “Look… into your HEART… You KNOW it to be TRUE.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/5 "2005-05-19T12:21:41Z")
William Shatner as Jabba The Hut? A few more pounds, a little less hair, stop hiding the liver spots… ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/6 "2005-05-19T12:45:58Z")
Luke: Michael Rosenbaum Leia: Keira Knightley Han: Nathan Fillion Obi Wan: Ian MacKellan Darth: Yeah, Rourke could do it C3PO (voice): Kevin Kline Grand Moff Tarkin: Patrick Stewart Lando Calrassian: Samuel L Jackson Palpatine: Derek Jacobi ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/7 "2005-05-19T13:05:33Z")
I’m trying to do this. I really am. I just can’t. Imagining anyone but Peter Cushing as Tarkin? Imagining a face on Luke that isn’t Mark Hamill? I used to think my imagination had no limits, but I was wrong, and that limit is right here. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/8 "2005-05-19T13:41:52Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > I’m trying to do this. I really am. I just can’t. Imagining anyone but Peter Cushing as Tarkin? Imagining a face on Luke that isn’t Mark Hamill? I used to think my imagination had no limits, but I was wrong, and that limit is right here. I have to agree… recasting the original trilogy _is_ an intriguing prospect, though. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/9 "2005-05-19T14:55:55Z")
Obi-Wan: Morgan Freeman C3PO: Eddie Izzard That’s all I’ve got at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/10 "2005-05-19T15:32:16Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > I’m trying to do this. I really am. I just can’t. Imagining anyone but Peter Cushing as Tarkin? Imagining a face on Luke that isn’t Mark Hamill? I used to think my imagination had no limits, but I was wrong, and that limit is right here. And yet it’s interesting that we’ve had two proposed Obi-Wans who are not different from the original one: well-respected British actors who would end up hating the role and everything associated with it. 😛 Patrick Stewart is philosophical but vaguely annoyed with Trekdom, Star Wars would be at least as bad. The closest McKellen has come to sci-fi is the X-Men series and he seems to be having a lot of fun with those. By the way, Tarkin IS in this movie, and obviously it isn’t Peter Cushing. (Here’s hoping it doesn’t turn into a DVD with another ‘replacement’ situation.) I heard someone mention it before. I guess I hoped they were wrong, but it’s there on the IMDb cast list. It’s supposed to be a younger Tarkin, so maybe it’ll be okay? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/11 "2005-05-19T15:42:02Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Han Solo: Johnny Depp I’m imagining him in the cantina with a prosthetic arm ala _Once Upon a Time in Mexico_. My picks: Luke: Joseph Gordon Levitt Leia: Christina Ricci Han: Brendan Fraser Palpatine: Al Pacino Grand Moff Tarkin: Malcolm McDowell (or his nephew Alexander Siddig) Uncle Owen: John Goodman Aunt Beru: Kathleen Turner Darth Vader (voice): Jeremy Irons (though only because I can’t recast James Earl) C3PO: Harvey Fierstein Lando Calrission: Dave Chapelle ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/12 "2005-05-19T15:43:38Z")
Obi Wan: Anthony Hopkins ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/13 "2005-05-19T15:57:21Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m imagining him in the cantina with a prosthetic arm ala _Once Upon a Time in Mexico_. > > My picks: > Luke: Joseph Gordon Levitt > Leia: Christina Ricci > Han: Brendan Fraser > Palpatine: Al Pacino > Grand Moff Tarkin: Malcolm McDowell (or his nephew Alexander Siddig) > Uncle Owen: John Goodman > Aunt Beru: Kathleen Turner > Darth Vader (voice): Jeremy Irons (though only because I can’t recast James Earl) > C3PO: Harvey Fierstein > Lando Calrission: Dave Chapelle And now I’m imagining Palpatine spraying people with bullets and dropping f-bombs, while Lando Calrission intones “I’m Lando Calrission, bitch!” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/14 "2005-05-19T16:04:05Z")
I’m working on a list, but right now all I got is Robin Williams as Chewbacca (he’s hairy enough!) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/15 "2005-05-19T16:05:24Z")
Kelsey Grammer as Han Solo. Don’t laugh… he actually auditioned for it. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/16 "2005-05-19T16:07:29Z")
I do a perfect Harvey Fierstein imitation (although it racks my throat something awful), and I’m going to start doing C3PO’s lines in that voice… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/17 "2005-05-19T16:11:44Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Kelsey Grammer as Han Solo. Don’t laugh… he actually auditioned for it. I wonder if Bebe Neuwirth auditioned for Leia. I can so totally hear Lilith saying “I thought I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board.” David Hyde Pierce would be good both in body and voice for C3PO. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/18 "2005-05-19T16:20:08Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > My picks: > Luke: Joseph Gordon Levitt > Leia: Christina Ricci > Han: Brendan Fraser > Palpatine: Al Pacino > Grand Moff Tarkin: Malcolm McDowell (or his nephew Alexander Siddig) > Uncle Owen: John Goodman > Aunt Beru: Kathleen Turner > Darth Vader (voice): Jeremy Irons (though only because I can’t recast James Earl) > C3PO: Harvey Fierstein > Lando Calrission: Dave Chapelle Mmm, I’m just envisioning Christina Ricci in Leia’s metal slave bikini in Return of the Jedi. How about Bruce Campbell as Han Solo? I still stand by Walken as Palpatine. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/19 "2005-05-19T16:27:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I can so totally hear Lilith saying “I thought I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board.” Heh, dang if you’re not right. Come to think of it, John Mahoney would make a fine Obi Wan. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537/20 "2005-05-19T16:40:00Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > And now I’m imagining Palpatine spraying people with bullets and dropping f-bombs, while Lando Calrission intones “I’m Lando Calrission, bitch!” I can really hear Pacino yelling at Luke about the Dark Side, though. “Young Skywalkuh! I feel the hate swelling widdin you! Join us!” Or “Every time I think I’m out, the Force pulls me back in.” Grr. On the Chappelle side, I’m hearing “Vader, you promised me, bitch!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recast-the-original-star-wars-movies-for-a-hypothetical-remake/304537.md?page=2)