Context:

Ryan Phillippe, at the age of 29, was a contender for the role of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, but ultimately lost the part to Hayden Christensen due to age discrepancies with co-star Natalie Portman. Phillippe, reflecting on the missed opportunity, expressed a philosophical acceptance, acknowledging the importance of resilience and adaptability in an acting career. The age difference between the actors played a significant role, with Natalie being 22 and Hayden 19 at the time. Despite the disappointment, Phillippe has continued to thrive in his career, currently starring in the Prime Video series 'Motorheads'. He emphasizes the necessity for actors to develop a tough skin to cope with industry rejections and setbacks.

Dive Deeper:

• Ryan Phillippe was almost cast as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars but lost the role to Hayden Christensen because he appeared too old next to Natalie Portman, who was 22 when he was 29.

• Phillippe shared his thoughts on the situation in an interview, highlighting that being born in the '70s made the idea of starring in Star Wars a dream, but he has accepted the outcome as part of the industry's nature.

• The casting decision was influenced by the age difference among the actors, with Hayden Christensen being 19, aligning better with Natalie Portman's age, which was crucial for the on-screen dynamic.

• Ryan discussed the importance of developing resilience in the acting profession, noting that actors must learn to handle rejection and move past setbacks without dwelling on them.

• Despite not securing the Star Wars role, Phillippe has continued to progress in his career and is now leading in a new Prime Video series called 'Motorheads'.

• Phillippe recently spoke about his son's acting abilities, showcasing his supportive role and positive outlook on his family's involvement in the entertainment industry.

• The experience with Star Wars has not hindered Ryan's career, as evidenced by his current projects and his philosophical approach to handling past disappointments.

• Ryan Phillippe recalls almost being cast as an iconic Star Wars character.

• If you didn’t know, Ryan, now 50, was up for the role of Anakin Skywalker when he was 29. However, he lost the part to Hayden Christensen due to coming across as “too old” alongside Natalie Portman. Natalie was 22 at the time, while Hayden was 19.

• “Being a kid born in the ’70s, I was like, ‘What a dream that would’ve been.’ But I think things happen for a reason and it’s easy to make peace with that,” Ryan told Variety in a recent interview.

• Keep reading to find out more…

• “Part of what we have to develop as actors is that thick skin that comes along with rejection or maybe things not going the way you wanted in a particular project or potential job. So there’s an element of being able to let go and release and not spend too much time thinking about those things,” he added.

• Ryan has since moved on with his career, as he is currently starring in an upcoming Prime Video series called Motorheads.

• If you didn’t see, last week, Ryan talked about his son’s acting skills on Motorheads.