George Lucas Wanted Toshiro Mifune For Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars l Film Trivia Expanded

#starwars #toshiromifune #akirakurosawa #georgelucas #anewhope
When looking at creating an original series in the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas took a great deal of inspriation from the film's of legendary Japaense filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa. To the point that the Jedi Knights are clearly inspired by the Samurai of Japan.
Notably, George Lucas was keen to get Japanese actor and frequent colloborator with Akira Kurosawa, Toshiro Mifune isn a role in Star Wars. Lucas had first approached Mifune for the role of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi aka Ben Kenobi, only to be turned down by the actor. Lucas even attempted to hire Mifune to play Darth Vader but he turned down that role too.
Lucas looked at the star power of Alec Guinness after being turned down by Toshiro Mifune. Guiness was the highest paid person for his work on Star Wars and even managed to secure a bonus of around 2.25 and 2.5% depending on who you ask. Guiness famously didn't love the role despite receiving an Academy Award nomination, as well has having his work introduced to a new genreation of moviegoers.
Other than looking at hiring Toshiro Mifune for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the influence that the films of Akira Kurosawa had on George Lucas and the Wars franchise is clearly very obvious. Many will point out that many of the plot beats and characters from Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress was lifted by George Lucas and used in Star Wars a New Hope.
We could have got a very different set of films had Mifune been cast as Obi-Wan. The prequels would have looked different and perhaps Ewan McGregor wouldn't have had his breakout role.
From the lightsaber being the Katana, the robes of a jedi being a Kimono and the armour of Vader being influenced by a Samurai helmet and Mempo, the influence and iconography of Kurosawa and Samurai movies is crystal clear.

[@johnkenobi]

Believe it or not.. I have signed SW cardgame card signed by Sir Alec, after I wrote him a letter..

[@RoachsFilmReel]

That's really cool

[@anatolydyatlov963]

Did he add a note saying that you shouldn't ever watch those wretched movies again? 🤣

[@johnkenobi]

@@anatolydyatlov963 No, but I forgot to correct my return envelope, which he did with the same pen as he used for signing.

[@forever3797]

Mifune mostly turned down the role as he knew he would be playing a Samurai based character and if the film didn't portray that with dignity he would have faced harsh criticism from the Samurai families in Japan. Based on previous sci fi films he made a sensible choice. As much as I love Guinness and McGregor's portrayals I too would love to see an alternative version with Mifune as Kenobi.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Thanks for the comment. I am still very curious as to what the film would have looked like with Mifune.

[@johnkenobi]

Kurosawa at one point, almost got the offer to direct Retrun of the Jedi- which I have no doubt, would have been a lot better for it.

[@Tom-bm2kt]

Give it a few years.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

@@johnkenobi I did not know that, really cool to know. I can only imagine how epic that could have been.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

@@Tom-bm2kt We will

[@johnkenobi]

Common mistake: your thumbnail image is not Toshiro Mifune- but Tatsuya Nakadai- taken fra Harakiri- also not a Akira Kurosawa film.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Oof I will get that changed. Thanks for letting me know

[@johnkenobi]

my pleasure. thank you for not getting angry.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

@@johnkenobi That's alright, i'd rather have it pointed out to me :)

[@matthewgaudet4064]

I think he wrote the character Valorum the Sith Knight for Mifune, Lucas. The one who became Vader. If you read the rough draft he seems like a Mifune character. I think Kenobi is also based on Yojimbo in Yojimbo and Sanjuro, a Ronin.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Sounds like that was the idea based on what you've said. Thanks for sharing that.

[@JBTriple8]

Im just speculating But I think Lee Jung Jae character Master Sol in The Acolyte is an Homage to what would've been Mifunes Kenobi.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

That's a decent shout. 👌

[@keaton718]

Alec was the right choice, his name carried serious weight in Hollywood and America, he was from the golden age but he was still one of the most famous actors alive at that point. The fact that Lucas talked him into being in Star Wars is amazing, and that Alec believed in the project enough to accept 2.5% on top of his fee is also Amazing. Alec didn't "like" the movie, but he liked Lucas and he loved the script; called it a page turner, he *had* to know what happened next when reading it and had a sense that the script and Lucas producing would be a success.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Yeah, I think Alec Guinness managed to bring weight to the project. I have seen the interview where he says that he read the script and hated the dialogue, but for some reason he had to keep reading because he wanted to know what was going to happen next.

[@JBTriple8]

I agree but it wouldve been interesting to see what Asian actor would've taken over for Mifunes Kenobi in the Prequels.

[@keaton718]

@@JBTriple8 for sure and probably would have been a better movie if it were an actual samurai in space movie. Doubt it would have been as successful though if you meddled with the formula.

[@talleman1]

That would have been interesting.

[@RoachsFilmReel]

It would have. Thanks for commenting 🙂

[@Rayliotta7631]

not cool...................just kidding it's cool

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Appreciate it

[@Tails7212]

cool

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Ta

[@HeroTeo]

Ew

[@RoachsFilmReel]

That one?

[@HeroTeo]

@@RoachsFilmReel the samurai

[@RoachsFilmReel]

@@HeroTeo ah I see

[@BPK3]

cool

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Many thanks

[@The.marauders]

cool

[@RoachsFilmReel]

Cheers