What would Star Wars have been like if Jodie Foster had been cast as Princess Leia?

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It has always appeared apparent that George Lucas improvised the plot of Star Wars as he went along. For instance, Luke begins as an innocent farm boy but ultimately becomes a seasoned Jedi. Similarly, Darth Vader starts as a menacing cyborg villain but eventually reveals himself as Luke’s father. And we won’t even bring up Leia’s transition from love interest to sibling, which would have been bizarre if not for the use of the Force.

The recent revelation that Jodie Foster was offered the part of Leia Organa is particularly interesting. During an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Foster shared that she declined the role in the groundbreaking 1977 film due to a conflict with a prior contract for a Disney movie, most likely the 1976 film Freaky Friday, which was being filmed at the same time.

Foster shared that there was a plan to cast a younger actress as Princess Leia, but she had a scheduling conflict. She was already committed to a Disney movie and did not want to back out. She acknowledged that the casting team did an excellent job and she is unsure how well she would have performed. She also joked that she may have had a different hairstyle or even opted for a pineapple look.

During the production of the first Star Wars film, Foster would have been between 13 and 14 years old, while 19-year-old Carrie Fisher was cast for the role. This age difference would have significantly altered the dynamic of Lucas’s movie. While Star Wars is not known for its maturity and complexity in the science fiction genre, having a younger central protagonist could have brought about a Phantom Menace-like scenario much earlier. The relationship between Harrison Ford’s Han Solo and Foster’s Leia would have likely resembled that of a father and daughter, adding a unique dynamic to the story. However, it would have been a major change from the original story. It’s possible that instead of Kylo Ren, Leia may have been the one to fatally wound Solo with her unusual crossguard lightsaber in the sequel trilogy.

Regardless, the original Star Wars trilogy would have likely lost some of its charm. The genuine, fiery chemistry between the romantic leads evokes the magic of classic Hollywood, and the undeniable attraction between Ford and Fisher (which was rooted in reality) greatly aided Lucas in reviving the essence of 1930s pulp sci-fi. Additionally, it helped Star Wars appeal to all audiences, rather than just young children. While it may have been given a U rating in the UK (PG in the US), it never feels like a movie solely geared towards kids. Foster, despite her ability to portray venomous characters from a young age (as seen in Taxi Driver), could have potentially altered the dynamic.

It’s important to note that things could have been even more unusual. Some actors who were once considered for the role of Leia were Sigourney Weaver, Sissy Spacek, Anjelica Huston, and Meryl Streep. Weaver’s portrayal of Leia may have been a mix of the seductive confidence of Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters and the strong compassion of Ellen Ripley in the Alien films. It’s difficult to envision 25-year-old Huston playing off against Solo’s egotistical masculinity without some level of disdain – the same goes for Meryl Streep – although the thought of her donning Leia’s iconic hair buns has a certain grandeur to it. It’s safe to say that Spacek would have been a completely miscast choice.

Although it may have been a pivotal moment, the thought of Foster portraying Leia is still fascinating. How would her career have evolved as the face of Star Wars? Out of the three main stars in George Lucas’s saga, only Ford found success after the release of Return of the Jedi in 1983. However, Mark Hamill has received more recognition for his recent work and has experienced a minor resurgence. Without a doubt, Foster would have continued to thrive in award-worthy dramatic roles and solidified her status as a Star Wars icon. Perhaps Leia’s return to the big screen in 2015’s The Force Awakens would not have taken 30 years if Foster had been cast. In that case, it may have been worth sacrificing her role in Freaky Friday.

Source: theguardian.com