A DRIBBLE across the net and on several STAR WARS forums, is the fact or
fiction that Christopher Lee was approached to play, Grand Moff Tarkin
is the firs Star Wars movie. According to 'the source', 'Christopher Lee
suggested Peter Cushing....!' Personally? I have no idea. Posting this story onto the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE has prompted a mixed reaction today. What do you
think?
ABOVE: One of the sources sharing the story is STARWARS_FIX
Did you ever get an answer to this? So far I can't find a source. What's odd about this is Cushing told Starlog he had initially been approached about playing Ben Kenobi. If that's true then it makes the idea that Lee suggested Cushing for the part he was turning down as a bit far fetched as Cushing would have already been on Lucas’s radar.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to know for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if Lee suggest Peter for the role, as all his close friends in the industry community, were often helping him, trying to keep his busy, since 1971 and the passing of his wife, Helen. Cushing, playing Ben is a lovely idea and interesting nugget of info, but as years passed both PC and Lee, did muddle things, as to be expected. If PC was approached to play Ben...he not wanting to leave the UK, remember he did all of Tarkin in just a few days and all at Elstree in the UK.. I can see why he would have turned it down. It was a huge role and after Star Wars, he made some odd choices, most I think based on location and work load. There were lots of supporting roles and a whole elderly Sherlock in 1984, supporting in House of the Long Shadows, with Lee and Price in 1983 and a large supporting role in Biggles in 1986, and a few tv eps like Tales of the Unexpected and House of Hammer.. all in the UK. I think venturing out for 'Shock Waves' to Florida in 77 after Star Wars and 'Hitlers Son' in Europe in 79, along with others, wore him out! In the big picture, I think we got the best deal. He always said, he chose roles, he thought the public would enjoy him playing. That almost always worked, it certainly did as far as Tarkin was concerned... and still does, via Rogue One! How strange was that? CGI work on past players, is a news story that plays out in newspapers, mags and the media every few days, and Cushing is always mentioned. Now, that is good PR for sure! - Marcus
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