If there was just 1 Star Wars prequel, who would you cast as Anakin?
- Thread starter The Wook
- Start date
MooCriket
Master Member
You could show a young Vader in flashbacks with Franco playing the part. For me, I envisioned war and the loss of family/friends combined with arrogance turning Vader to the Dark side. Not really different then what we got.
Take away the whining though, and add some 300 type war action with Anakin just being the ultimate bad ass of the Jedi order. End the film with him taking out nearly all the order single handedly, with only a few getting an upper hand by compromising their theology...cheating to defeat Vader.
When I think of Vader, pre KFC extra crispy, I think of the Kurgan...
Clancy Brown
Take away the whining though, and add some 300 type war action with Anakin just being the ultimate bad ass of the Jedi order. End the film with him taking out nearly all the order single handedly, with only a few getting an upper hand by compromising their theology...cheating to defeat Vader.
When I think of Vader, pre KFC extra crispy, I think of the Kurgan...
Clancy Brown
Hm, just met Clancy at work last Monday. Not really the kind. Phillipe had the best overall auditions, but Natlie er, reacted favorably to Hayden let's say.
(An aside: Poorest decision was not bringing Haley Joel Osment back in in '97-'98.)
In '77... who did I picture and who is the equivalent? I think I pictured, then, someone more like Harrison. In '77 no one knew he needed to fit the suit. And a character more like Fett: subtle, but always aware. After '83... Mike Biehn's too small at just 6', but someone a bit more like Reese could have been interesting and his looks probably would have worked.
For a prequel I'm afraid I don't know enough about contemporary actors. And I can't think that anyone at mid-twenties could do the work. I like the Caviezel notion, but for reasons mentioned, it wouldn't have happened.
I think his turn should have been some perversion of a Jedi test. Where most turn away from the temptation of the dark side, Anakin misunderstands and embraces it, thinking he is strong enough to move through the trial, but once he's in the Emperor can sense and control him.
(An aside: Poorest decision was not bringing Haley Joel Osment back in in '97-'98.)
In '77... who did I picture and who is the equivalent? I think I pictured, then, someone more like Harrison. In '77 no one knew he needed to fit the suit. And a character more like Fett: subtle, but always aware. After '83... Mike Biehn's too small at just 6', but someone a bit more like Reese could have been interesting and his looks probably would have worked.
For a prequel I'm afraid I don't know enough about contemporary actors. And I can't think that anyone at mid-twenties could do the work. I like the Caviezel notion, but for reasons mentioned, it wouldn't have happened.
I think his turn should have been some perversion of a Jedi test. Where most turn away from the temptation of the dark side, Anakin misunderstands and embraces it, thinking he is strong enough to move through the trial, but once he's in the Emperor can sense and control him.
Clutch
Master Member
dbalschi
Sr Member
:lol Did you say that while watching Shawshank Redemption or Starship Troopers?
First off - The Jedi all needed to be older - around Qui Gon's age - I never signed up for no stupid Padawackys or babies training with lightsabers - we needed ADULTS - A jedi who falls from grace, not a spoiled teen who missed out on a life lesson. When Obi Wan spoke of he and Anakin being friends - I imagined two knights of the round table or something. Anakin needed to be played by someone who you would treasure as a friend but would be just as significant as an enemy - we needed Sam Neil in that role.
He even looks like he'd be Hammil's dad - plus the guy played the anti ****** - Vader would be a walk in the park.
He even looks like he'd be Hammil's dad - plus the guy played the anti ****** - Vader would be a walk in the park.
Qui-Gonzalez
Master Member
If Tom Cruise has taught you anything it should be that height on screen is meaningless. Sometimes they make him look bigger than life.
Excellent point, Jet. I agree that adults would be better, but Anakin would ideally need to be a young adult, because Obi Wan tells Luke that "a young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, betrayed and murdered your father". So if we assume Obi Wan in ANH was 55 (I know, he looked much older), then he'd be 37 in 18 BBY when Luke was born. Using that timeline, I'd think--in this single prequel filmed in '98--Anakin would be no more than say 30. In which case, a 30 year old (in '98) actor like Caviezel would've been the perfect age. However, Ewan was only 27 when TPM was filmed, and since we're assuming this *single* prequel would've been released in '99, they'd have had to make him look 10 years older. Do you think that could've been pulled off through makeup and writing.
DAMN!...I bet those two would've been incredible together! No more whiny teen Jedi angst!
The Wook
ps~can't sanction Sam Neil, though...I like him okay, but he's a B actor and far too well known for the role. Anakin Skywalker was a mysterious character, who fans had imagined for decades. You can't give the part to a journeyman B actor like Neil.
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I've always loved his acting. I think his career was hurt by the Passion (although I suspect he knew that going in and did it anyway) and I think that's made him somewhat under-rated.
I also think Hayden isn't a terrible choice, I think the real terrible choice is one that they are in danger of repeating and it's the main thing (aside from JJ's history) that makes me nervous about the new movies coming: While the element of surprise can serve you well for big twists like being Luke's father (which, by the way, is no longer a surprise at all to the new generation watching it in order), there's also a big downside to keeping everything a big damn secret, and that is that without the advantage of testing the waters on some ideas you risk sending out lead balloons like Jar jar and emo vader screaming "noooooo". This more than the actors involved is what caused the train to slip off the tracks in places.
rodneyfaile
Sr Member
I would never make a prequel movie that featured Anakin before he was became Darth Vader. My prequel would have been Vader hunting down Jedi and disposing of the them. Maybe a flashback or two showing Amidala similar to Robocop's POV remembering his family, but nothing more.
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