Early in the development of Star Wars George Lucas was thinking of letting Toshiro Mifune play Obi-wan Kenobe. What would things be like if this Japanese actor took the place of Sir Alec Guinness?
Early in the development of Star Wars George Lucas was thinking of letting Toshiro Mifune play Obi-wan Kenobe. What would things be like if this Japanese actor took the place of Sir Alec Guinness?
that no problem Toshiro Mifune work with other US Director for US Movies
He learnt English phonetically for Movie Grand Prix 1966
and used this also in his role in US TV serie Shogun.
but the Impact on Starwars will be great
because Toshiro Mifune work in Samurai movies
the Jedi Order will taken more "Japanies Look" by the Fans
not as religion but as Bushidō ("way of the warrior") code !
General more interest in Japanese culture & entertainment. Earlier and more thorough penetration of manga/anime to American market (predating Internet)
OTOH maybe not. It wasn't that big a role in what, I've been told, nobody saw as anything more than a potboiler for an up and coming but still 'youthful' director. I've always wondered, WHY did probably the world's most eminent actor at the time take a small role in it?