Disney’s sudden purchase of Lucasfilm (and the accompanying announcement that Star Wars: Episode VII would arrive in theaters in 2015) still stands as arguably the biggest entertainment story of the past couple of years. However, when the company broke the news, they also set off an infinite number of questions about what the new film would have in store for fans. Now, a year-and-a-half later, answers are finally emerging.
Most of the cast of the film has finally been revealed, and as fans have long expected, many of the characters from the original film trilogy are set to make a long-awaited return to the big screen. Of course, rumors are still swirling about who else may join the existing cast of Episode VII and whether Abrams’ nostalgia-fueled space adventure will recruit any additional familiar faces. Now we know of at least one actor who is officially not returning.
According to UK news site The Courier, actor Denis Lawson – who played Rebel Alliance pilot Wedge Antilles in all three original films – will not be appearing in Star Wars: Episode VII. However, whereas Billy Dee Williams has always seemed open to returning as Lando Calrissian, Lawson reportedly turned down the chance to take part in Episode VII.
Here’s what the actor had to say:
They asked me but it just would have bored me.
Lawson did not offer any details regarding how big his role would have been, but considering how crowded the cast of Episode VII is fast becoming, it’s likely that he only would’ve appeared in a cameo as a nod to his fan-favorite status in the earlier films. Besides, Abrams’ script has already reportedly shifted the focus of his Star Wars adventure to highlight Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. Perhaps Episode VII has already placed enough emphasis on the original trilogy.
After all, if Disney truly hopes to model the relaunched Star Wars universe after the Marvel Cinematic Universe, complete with spinoffs in between each Episode, perhaps it should start laying the groundwork for the many, many films to come instead of rehashing the past. If Lawson was (as we assume) only going to be featured in a very minor capacity in Episode VII, essentially just to jog fans’ memories of his role in taking down the Death Star (twice!), it’s understandable why the actor chose not to get involved.
Are you disappointed that Lawson won’t return for Episode VII, or do you prefer that the film focus on introducing new cast additions like Adam Driver to the fold? Let us know in the comments section below.
_________________________________________________
Star Wars: Episode VII hits theaters on December 18, 2015.
Sauce:
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?action=post;board=34.0
