- Samuel L. Jackson reveals how he became Mace Windu in Star Wars
- George Lucas approached Jackson for an unspecified role in the film
- Lucas later offered Jackson his choice of a purple, blue or green lightsaber
Samuel L. Jackson, the popular American actor, recently opened up about the story behind his casting as Mace Windu in the iconic Star Wars franchise. According to Jackson himself, he was approached by George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars universe, for an unspecified role in the film.
Jackson explains that his initial conversation about the part took place during an appearance on a British talk show. As fate would have it, both he and George Lucas were booked as guests on the same day. The two began talking, and Lucas mentioned that he was creating a new Star Wars trilogy and would like Samuel L. Jackson to be a part of it. Despite being unsure of what the role was, Jackson, a huge fan of the Star Wars series, agreed to be a part of the movies.
In the comics, Mace Windu was not originally depicted with a lightsaber, but Jackson, fascinated with the weapon, wanted one for his character. After some consideration, Lucas relented and offered his new star a choice of a purple, blue, or green lightsaber. Jackson, who loves purple, gladly chose the purple lightsaber, and the rest, as they say, is history.