A star eyed for a role in the hit science-fiction series Star Wars never appeared due to a tragic reason.
Series creator George Lucas was apparently keen to find a spot for the celebrity in the prequel trilogy of films, which released between 1999 and 2005.
While controversial upon its release, many dedicated Star Wars fans have come around to enjoying the prequels for what they are, and are often considered a solid collection of films extending the universe.
But it turns out, there could have been casting change that changed everything. While it may not have fixed the initial lukewarm response, fans of Star Wars have been shocked to learn that the Oscar-nominated actor who ended up portraying Mace Windu could have been dropped from the film altogether.
That’s because it’s been claimed a different star had initially been offered the role, before tragedy struck.
Lucas would go on to cast Samuel L. Jackson in the role of the Jedi master – but allegedly had his eye on rap artist Tupac Shakur for the role.
Sadly though, the So Many Tears hitmaker would die three years before the release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. He was shot and killed in 1996, cutting his successful career tragically short.
Death Row Records’ former engineer, Rick Clifford, says the rapper had been set to read for the part of Mace Windu.
Clifford claimed: “He was telling me that he was supposed to read for George Lucas and them. They wanted him to be a Jedi. Yes, I’m serious — Samuel L got Tupac’s part.
“It’s sad because ‘Pac found out that I worked for Brian Austin Green, who was on 90210, then he found out I was in some movies. So we always talked about his film career and stuff.”
Fans have since shared their shock on the r/TodayILearned Reddit page, with many suggesting Tupac would have been a phenomenal casting choice.
One fan wrote: “Samuel Jackson was great, but I wish they would’ve let him be a bit more unhinged rather than, like.. stern.
“I feel like Pac could’ve actually brought Windu’s darker side to life in a really cool way. If it would’ve been anything like the psychological nuances he added to his character in Juice, then.”
Another praised the rapper, writing: “He was a damn good actor. I think he would have surprised people.”
Meanwhile, a third added: “George definitely has had some bad ideas, but I don’t think 2pac as Mace Windu was one of them. He was a good actor.”
Other comments have suggested watching the making-of documentary for the prequel series, in which Lucas suggests he had ‘gone too far’ in some parts of the film trilogy.
One fan wrote: “The entire documentary is honestly so insane. You can see so many bad decisions made in the moment. And nobody even attempts to convince George when he’s wrong despite everybody feeling that way.
“The auditions for Anakin were literally down to two actors, and everybody wanted one and George was the only one who liked the one we got. And the acting ability between the two is night and day.”
Even though Clifford claims Tupac was offered a read for Mace Windu, series creator George Lucas has not confirmed or denied this.