Production on Star Wars: Episode VII is underway, and with a screenwriter and director selected, Disney’s takeover/reintroduction of the popular sci-fi franchise will soon start the process of casting. One actor at the front of the line (at least he wants to be) is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
In an interview with an Australian news outlet , primarily regarding the upcoming G.I. Joe: Retaliation , The Rock confessed that he would love a shot at a lightsaber-swinging role in the forthcoming film.
“I played with two lines of action figures when I was a kid, G.I. Joe and Star Wars… By the way, because we didn’t have a lot of money, I used to steal them. I’d just rip open the packages and shove ’em in my pockets… like a lot of kids. I got caught a couple of times, got my ass kicked by my parents,” confessed The Rock.
Then came the stinger: “When I got the call saying, ‘How do you feel about becoming the leader of the G.I. Joes?’ it was like if I got a call from George Lucas saying, ‘I want you to be in Star Wars’. I’m gonna call J.J. and you’re gonna help by printing it and I’m gonna be in Star Wars’!”
G.I. Joe: Retaliation director John Chu paid Johnson a huge compliment in an interview last year , calling the 40-year-old actor and former wrestler “franchise viagra,” who brings “an energy to properties that need it.” Having been solicited for roles in G.I. Joe and Fast Five to great success, The Rock being cast in Star Wars: Episode VII is at least a possibility.
Another actor lobbying for a Star Wars: Episode VII role (or lobbying for a return, more accurately) is Samuel L. Jackson. The Django Unchained actor recently theorized that his character Mace Windu could have potentially survived the events of Revenge of the Sith , the third film in the prequel trilogy.
“He just went out the window. He’s a Jedi! He could have landed on a ledge,” Jackson said.
What do you think? Could you imagine Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson robed-up for a role in the new Star Wars film?