How Tupac Almost Played Mace Windu
Nowadays, when you hear of Tupac news, it tends to be rumors of his sighting in various parts of the world. Is he alive? Is he dead? The conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Tupac Shakur are one of the most popular myths up there with the assassination of Kennedy. As fun and entertaining as speculation might be, this article will not be discussing those theories. Instead, we will look at how this hip-hop icon was almost in the galaxy far, far away.
In a 2014 interview with 2Pac-Forum, Rick Clifford, who was one of Shakur’s recording engineers at Death Row Records, recalled a conversation he had with the rapper some time in the mid-1990s.
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“It’s sad because ‘Pac found out that I worked for Brian Austin Green who was on 90210, then he found out I was in some movies. So we always talked about his film career and stuff. He was telling me that he was supposed to read for George Lucas. They wanted him to be a Jedi… Samuel L. [Jackson] got Tupac’s part… He called me ‘Old Man’. He said ‘Old Man keep your fingers crossed, I got three movies coming up. One of them I gotta read for George Lucas.'”
"Now you're 'bout to feel the wrath of a menace."
-"Hit 'Em Up"
We were not sure when exactly the late rapper auditioned for the part of Jedi Master Mace Windu. Tupac was taken too soon at the age of 25 in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, less than a year before The Phantom Menace began production in June 1997.
The character of Mace Windu became synonymous with Samuel L. Jackson. It was hard to imagine anyone else in that role. We all know Tupac had some acting chops. He starred in seven movies in his lifetime. Among them were 1993’s Poetic Justice (opposite Janet Jackson) and 1994’s Above the Rim. Bullet, Gridlock’d, and his last performance Gang Related were released posthumously in 1996 and 1997.
Even though Tupac was an up-and-coming actor when he read lines for George Lucas, his song lyrics showed that his philosophical mind would have brought depth to the character of Mace Windu. He would have been spectacular in portraying the calm, yet powerful, presence on the Jedi Council, someone who was not afraid to jump into action when pushed to it. Now we are left with mental images of an alternative version of the prequel trilogy. What color lightsaber would Tupac Windu be wielding? After all, the purple-bladed lightsaber was a personal request of Samuel L. Jackson. Picture his piercing eyes scrutinizing the young Anakin Skywalker when he first stood in front of the Jedi Council. Imagine Tupac channeling the Force as he cut down battle droids in the arena at Geonosis. Now imagine the confrontation between Tupac Windu and Jango Fett. What would it have looked like with Tupac dueling Palpatine in the Chancellor’s office?
"I’m not a killa’, but don’t push me"
-"Hail Mary"
Even though we would never see Tupac onscreen as Mace Windu, the particular character is already spurning similar conspiracy theories and speculation. A few fans are already saying that Mace Windu did not die in Revenge of the Sith, as we did not see his lifeless body. Perhaps, with the Jedi’s Force abilities, he would have survived that fall from the Chancellor’s office. While we would not have similar unconfirmed sightings of Mace Windu in Cuba, as the character’s appearance in the time after Revenge of the Sith would have to be a conscious decision on the part of Star Wars directors, it would be interesting and entertaining to see similar discussion and speculation. Tupac was almost Mace Windu. Like him, Mace Windu could still be alive.
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Source(s): MTV.com, Rolling Stone