50 Star Wars secrets that will blow your mind
By Josh Hill
3. Terence Stamp Hates George Lucas
Part of what makes The Phantom Menace cool is that it drew in some big name actors in roles that helped legitimize Star Wars even further. While the original films didn’t draw in any big actors outside of Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing and a few others, The Phantom Menace had stars like Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Another big name to appear was Terence Stamp. The Superman II actor was cast in the role of Chancellor Valorum who was eventually run out of office to make way for Palpatine to take over. But that wasn’t the only drama, as Stamp apparently had great disdain for George Lucas.
In an interview looking back on the film, Stamp noted that he didn’t think George Lucas was a good director and really only took the part A) against his will and B) to meet a young and upcoming Natalie Portman.
He was rumored to have been offered a part in Attack of the Clones that he turned down so he wouldn’t have to work with Lucas again.
Next: 2. Tupac Wanted To Be In The Phantom Menace