Star Wars, for its tendency to keep diving back into nostalgia, is a franchise that always seems to have a surprise or two up its sleeve. Whether it’s a surprisingly poignant moment in an otherwise goofy situation or a clever cameo from a big-name actor as a random stormtrooper, there’s always something unexpected in the wings. That fact was the same even during the prequel trilogy, which almost saw Gary Oldman join the fray.
It turns out that Oldman, everyone’s favorite actor who was probably in everything at some point, actually took part in the filming process ofStar Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and not as some random Pau’an. According to a recent interview, he actually almost voiced General Grievous himself. The half-droid and half-whatever-the-heck villain remains one of the more memorable elements of that particularStar Warsfilm, and Oldman’s voice backing him up would have been interesting. But what happened?
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While appearing on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, Oldman revealed that he was not only almost part of the movie, he actually recorded some dialogue.Even George Lucas himselfdirected the session. “Well, I did a voice forStar Wars… was it General Grievous? What happened was something to do with union stuff and non-union stuff,” Oldman explained. “I was not going to be the poster boy for [breaking union rules]. [Lucas] directed me the whole thing; yeah, he was terrific.” It’s fascinating to think about what might have been, but it makes sense why it didn’t come to pass.
General Grievous is either one of the most fearsomevillains inStar Warsor one of its most goofy, depending on who’s being asked. But one aspect that many seem to agree on is how fitting his voice is. Voice actor and sound engineer Thomas Wood provided his now-iconic vocal performance inRevenge of the Sithand several other projects, so it’s difficult to imagine how the character might have changed if a legendary name like Oldman were to take over instead. But he had good reasons not to, and it all seemed to turn out well in the end.
Unions can be a tricky business, but they’re an important element in ensuring that workers of all sorts are treated fairly. So Oldman’s unwillingness to step on any toes regarding that world is commendable. This is the same actor whose roles have ranged from the mild-manneredCommissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogyto that wonky southern-ish being fromThe 5th Elementand beyond. It’s not like he’s been hurting for a creative outlet.
As interesting as the possibility of Oldman as Grievous is, maybe it was all for the best. Wood’s performance is truly unique, and it would be a shame to have lost something like that in favor of celebrity voice casting. Besides, it’s not likeStar Warsis going anywhere. If Oldman wants in at this point, pretty much all he’d have to do is ask. The fans would absolutely love to have him.
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sithis available to stream on Disney Plus.
