Jodie Foster Turned Down The Biggest Role In Sci-Fi History
Jodie Foster is widely regarded as one of the most successful and well-adjusted child stars to ever come out of the Hollywood film industry. With landmark performances in classic films such as Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver, and Contact, you’d be forgiven for assuming her career couldn’t possibly be any bigger.
Jodie Foster Turned Down Star Wars
However, Jodie Foster has confirmed in a recent interview that she was once offered to play the iconic role of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, which serves as one of the most recognizable roles of all time.
It has long been rumored that Jodie Foster was offered the role of Princess Leia before the position ultimately went to Carrie Fisher, though the True Detective actress has not spoken on the casting in public.
Jodie Foster As Princess Leia?
That is, until a recent appearance on NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, wherein the host prodded Foster to confirm or deny the long-held rumor.
Apparently, the studio had been eying then-14-year-old Jodie Foster during the early days of casting, as they were looking for a younger woman to portray the character.
Would Have Joined Star Wars
Jodie Foster confirmed that she would have taken the role as Princess Leia had she not already been contractually obligated to appear in another film from Disney, which fans speculate to be 1976’s Freaky Friday, based on the timeline of the two releases.
While Freaky Friday was ultimately a successful venture, taking in over $36 million against an estimated production budget of only $5 million, it clearly doesn’t bring with it the same cultural relevance and staying power of the entire Star Wars franchise.
Carrie Fisher As Princess Leia
Of course, Carrie Fisher, who was 19 when the first Star Wars film was shot, made the role her own, and developed the character into a certifiable powerhouse on the big screen.
In the years since, Jodie Foster has gone on to a host of other major projects, including leading appearances in films such as Panic Room, Nim’s Island, Elysium, and The Mauritanian.
Foster has also taken a number of jobs behind the camera, directing herself in films such as Little Man Tate, The Beaver, and a 2017 episode of Black Mirror. Clearly, Jodie Foster’s career was not significantly hampered by the loss of the Princess Leia role, especially since Foster tends not to get involved in long-running franchise projects in the first place.
A Completely Different Version
Jodie Foster has acknowledged that her casting as Princess Leia would have resulted in a completely different version of the iconic Alderaanian monarch, and reaffirmed that Fisher did an amazing job in the role.
Fisher’s final on-screen performance as Princess Leia was in 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which premiered just after the beloved performer passed away at the age of 60.
Jodie Foster Vs. Carrie Fisher
While it’s incredibly fascinating to think about how different the entire Star Wars universe may have turned out with Jodie Foster in the role, it seems clear that cinema history shook out the way it was supposed to, as Fisher embodied the character perfectly.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
