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Before he became known to fans as Gotham City’s police commissioner, James Gordon, Gary Oldman turned down a role in aStar Warsmovie. Oldman was initially set to play a role inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which was released just a month beforeBatman Beginsin 2005. TheDarkest Houractor was cast in the voice role of the cyborgStar Warsvillain, General Grievous.
Star Warsfans still remember the nefarious villain who collected lightsabers from the fallen Jedi. The role eventually went to Matthew Wood, who was the supervising sound editor on the film. There are conflicting stories as to why theHarry Potteractor didn’t end up in the role.
Also Read:“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy”: Harry Potter Star Gary Oldman Claimed He Sweated Vodka – 6 Hollywood Legends Who Fought Alcohol Addiction Like Champions
George Lucas Allegedly Wanted Gary Oldman To Work Illegally For The Film
In a statement released byGary Oldman’s management company, the actor had to let go of the role because the film was being made as a non-SAG (Screen Actors Guild) production. Oldman’s spokesperson explained that taking the role would have meant violating the rules of the Union, especially Global Rule One. This is the rule that protected Oldman’s SAG contract provisions wherever he worked globally. The statement said (via The Guardian):
“Gary was excited and looking forward to working on the film. The snag is that the movie is being made without members of the Screen Actors Guild. It means Gary would have been working illegally overseas. Out of respect and solidarity with the other members, he could not and would not consider violating the rules of his union.”
Earlier,George Lucasrenounced his membership in both the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) and the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA). The decision was due to his insistence on keeping the famous opening crawl and end credits inThe Empire Strikes Back. Lucas paid a fine to the DGA for the movie but still quit from both organizations.
The Lucasfilm founder reportedly wantedSteven Spielbergto direct bothReturn of the Jediand the prequel trilogy films, but theE.T.director, being a Union member, couldn’t join the projects. However, there’s another side to theSlow Horsesactor’s story about his General Grievous role.
Also Read:“All my heroes were drinkers”: Idolizing Gary Oldman Came at a Heavy Cost for Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter Star Fell Into Same Vicious Cycle of Addiction Before Going Sober
General Grievous Voice Actor Shared A Different Story On Gary Oldman’s Role
In an interview with Josh Horowitz of theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, Gary Oldman confirmed that he did voice some parts for the role of General Grievous but had to eventually drop out. TheLéon: The Professionalactor shared that he was not going to be the“poster boy”for breaking Union rules but still admired the works of George Lucas.
However, Matthew Wood, who later played the role in the film, disputed Oldman’s “Union” story when he attended Celebration III in Indianapolis. Wood revealed that Oldman recorded an audition as a favor to his friend and the producer of the film, Rick McCallum, but he was not selected. Wood slid his audition tape with the other actors and was eventually selected for the role.
Oldman’s version of events cannot be entirely dismissed, as his decision was applauded by the SAG union at the time. A Union representative stated that it was a strong statement coming from one of the leading artists in the industry. What’s certain is that Oldman had the opportunity to star in three major franchises in the same year, as he was already part ofBatman BeginsandHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, both released in 2005.
Also Read:“My kids are American”: Despite Being British, Gary Oldman Took “English Lessons” For $150M Movie Which Got Him An Academy Award
Fans can enjoy the entireStar Warsfranchise, which is now available for streaming on Disney+.
Source:The Guardian
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
