Ryan Phillippe’s Near Miss for Anakin Skywalker
In a recent interview with Variety, actor Ryan Phillippe reminisced about his close brush with landing the coveted role of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. The actor revealed that a seven-year age gap between himself and Natalie Portman, who portrayed Padmé Amidala, ultimately eliminated him from consideration for the role. Phillippe expressed how significant this opportunity was for him, saying, ‘Being a kid born in the ’70s, I was like, what a dream that would’ve been.’
The Impact of Age in Casting Decisions
Age differences can dramatically affect casting decisions in Hollywood. In this case, Hayden Christensen, who was just a year older than Portman, secured the role of the complex character who transforms into Darth Vader. Phillippe, now 50, acknowledged the part of an actor’s journey involves handling rejection and learning to move on. He commented, ‘Things happen for a reason, and it’s easy to make peace with that.’
Reflections on His Career Choices
Beyond the Star Wars saga, Phillippe has left a mark in the horror genre with his role in the 1997 film, I Know What You Did Last Summer. He humorously reflected on his past choices in roles, noting that playing characters who meet their end reduces future sequel opportunities for him. Phillippe remarked that while he once thought it cool to take a character to their last moment, he now realizes, ‘You want to live in case there’s more movies to be made.’
Despite not being part of the Star Wars franchise, Phillippe appreciates the cultural impact his earlier projects have had, adding that revisiting such films is a testament to their success. ‘It definitely makes you feel like a dinosaur or aware of your age, but at the same time, it’s a compliment to something that you were a part of.’
