30 iconic Star Wars roles that almost went to different actors

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters) James McAvoy attends the premiere of 20th Century Fox’s “Dark Phoenix” at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 04, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) /

6. Poe Dameron (James McAvoy)

James McAvoy, another X-Men alum, was also considered for a role in the Star Wars universe. Before Oscar Isaac was cast in the role of the hotheaded X-Wing pilot, J.J. Abrams was rumored to have considered casting James McAvoy. Some fans may remember that Poe Dameron was originally intended to die in The Force Awakens, but it was ultimately Oscar Isaac’s performance that made Abrams reconsider that decision. Do you think McAvoy would have survived the first film?

Production for The Force Awakens began in July of 2014, which would not have interfered with McAvoy’s work on X-Men: Apocalypse, which began filming in the spring of 2015. Especially considering the fact that Oscar Isaac is actually in the film too! If you have seen X-Men: Apocalypse and you can’t remember who he played, his character’s name is even in the title! Trust me, you would not recognize Isaac in his role as En Sabah Nur (or Apocalypse), so don’t feel bad about not remembering him.

While it likely wasn’t this film’s production that would have posed a challenge, had McAvoy been cast as Poe Dameron, his commitment to the future X-Men films may have sealed Dameron’s fate in The Force Awakens.

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