An interview with the Rashomon actor’s daughter claims that George Lucas was keen for him to take a key role in Star Wars

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Toshiro Mifune turned down the chance to play a key role in Star Wars, according to the late actor’s daughter, Mika Mifune.

1977: when Star Wars hit the UK – in pictures Read more

The star of Rashomon and Seven Samurai was approached by George Lucas to appear in his 1977 sci-fi adventure, but the two couldn’t strike a deal, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“I heard from my father that he was offered the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but he was concerned about how the film would look and that it would cheapen the image of samurai, on which George Lucas had based a lot of the character and fighting style,” said Mika.

The plot of Star Wars was loosely based on The Hidden Fortress, a 1958 film that Mifune starred in for director and frequent collaborator Akira Kurosawa.

“At the time, sci-fi movies still looked quite cheap as the effects were not advanced and he had a lot of samurai pride,” Mika said. “So then, there was talk about him taking the Darth Vader role as his face would be covered, but in the end he turned that down too.”

Other actors who turned down roles in the film include Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Burt Reynolds, Robert De Niro and James Caan.

The news came from an event to announce Tokyo Comic Con, where Mika appeared with Steve Wozniak, scheduled to take place from 5 to 6 December.

• This article was amended on 4 December 2015. Due to a production error, it originally used a photo of the actor Tatsuya Nakadai, not Toshiro Mifune. It was further amended on 6 December 2015 to make clear that the source of this story was the Hollywood Reporter.