"Star Wars: Episode VII" is set to feature a bunch of familiar faces from the original trilogy, including Luke (Mark Hamill), Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han (Harrison Ford), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). But one actor who played a supporting character in the series claims he was asked to join the new trilogy -- and turned down the part because he was bored by the concept.Denis Lawson, who played X-Wing pilot and Rebel leader Wedge Antilles in "Star Wars: A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi," revealed in a new interview that filmmakers did indeed reach out to him about reprising his role for "Episode VII," but he wasn't interested.
"I'm not going to do that," Lawson told the U.K.'s The Courier when the subject of "Star Wars" was broached. "They asked me but it just would have bored me."
That's certainly a different perspective than the dozens of actors and actresses who were all vying for a part in the hotly-anticipated new chapter in the "Star Wars" saga, which is rumored to focus on the children of Luke, Leia, and Han as the Jedi torch is passed from one generation to the next. And while Wedge wasn't exactly a major character in the original flicks, The Playlist notes that he did play a significant role in the Rebel cause in all three films, including helping take down both versions of the Death Star, and most likely would have risen to a position of authority in the new galactic government.
Still, if Lawson doesn't want to let his "Star Wars" work dominate his latter career aspirations, that's his business. As we mentioned above, there are plenty of other people who do want in, so we're sure J.J. Abrams and co. will find someone to take his place.
"Star Wars: Episode VII" -- sans Wedge -- opens on December 18, 2015.
[via The Courier, h/t The Playlist]
Photo by AP Photo/Edwin Marcow