Dork Side of the Force
Fansided

30 iconic Star Wars roles that almost went to different actors

By Maggie Lovitt

Joaquin Phoenix, Elizabeth Olsen and Tessa Thompson. Composite: Dork Side of the Force.
Joaquin Phoenix, Elizabeth Olsen and Tessa Thompson. Composite: Dork Side of the Force. /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 10: Elizabeth Olsen attends BuzzFeed’s “AM To DM” on October 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 10: Elizabeth Olsen attends BuzzFeed’s “AM To DM” on October 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images) /

12. Rey (Elizabeth Olsen)

When you look at the list of actresses that allegedly auditioned for the role of Rey for The Force Awakens, they all seem pretty obvious. Names like the Golden Globe Award-winning actress Saoirse Ronan, for instance. But did you know that Marvel’s own breakout star Elizabeth Olsen was asked to audition for the role?

Olsen’s filming for Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s credit scene would have wrapped a year prior to principal photography beginning for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2014. While she may have been free to shoot the first film in the trilogy, she was already contracted for multiple appearances in the future Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Rumors about J.J. Abrams considering her for the role are largely unsubstantiated, but we do know that Olsen is a huge fan of the franchise. In fact, it was her love for Star Wars that led to her becoming part of the MCU.

While Elizabeth Olsen has yet to appear in a Star Wars film, her WandaVision co-star Paul Bettany appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Dryden Vos. He appeared opposite Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke, whose role in the popular HBO series Olsen ironically auditioned for.

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