Mark Hamill shares fascinating casting trivia from the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy

Mark Hamill spilled some intriguing tea about alternative casting possibilities for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

The legendary actor took to Twitter and responded to a question from a fan about whether fellow thespian William Katt was also in the running for the role of Luke Skywalker. As it turns out, George Lucas’ second choice for the part was not Katt, but another name altogether.

Instead, Lucas cast Seltzer as Andy Henderson in More American Graffiti. Terri Nunn is best known as the lead singer of Berlin, the band that made the hit theme song for the original Top Gun film, “Take My Breath Away,” while Christopher Walken needs no introduction..

It’s fascinating to think of what might of been with Selzer, Nunn, and Walken in the roles of Luke, Leia, and Han. Their energy is profoundly different from the magnetic idealism embodied by Hamill, the alluring audacity of Carrie Fisher, and the charm of Harrison Ford.

Seltzer’s interpretation of Luke was compelling and contemplative in his audition reel, while Nunn’s audition with Ford is convincing, but lacks Fisher’s characteristic sass. No doubt Walken’s performance as Han would have been profoundly different, too. He has always radiated an edgy and ethereal aura in his roles. At the end of the day, it simply would not have been the same movie and there is no doubt that Hamill, Fisher, and Ford were born to play their roles in Star Wars: Episode I -A New Hope.

The original Star Wars trilogy, the prequels, and subsequent spinoff films and TV series are streaming on Disney Plus.