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What If Ian Had Said No To Appearing In Empire Strikes Back?

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 (Edited)

I was just wondering what George would have done if Ian McDiarmid thought like we do and refused to allow George to reshoot him for Empire Strikes Back. It’s funny that George has all the power in the world when it comes to his Star Wars empire, but he would be completely thwarted if Ian had simply said, “No. I don’t want to do this.” What do you think his reaction would have been? I can almost see him holding his breath and jumping up and down like a toddler until Ian agreed. Or maybe going on an LFL killing spree because he couldn’t have his way. Thoughts?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Not sure, but probably sued him for breach of contract and let everyone in the business know that Ian McDiarmid is a difficult actor to work with?
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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Ian would never have said no. Lucas may be an asshole to his fan base, but he is quite the gentleman when it comes to his actors. Alec Guinness hated Star Wars with a passion (mostly due to the fans). Yet he returned for Empire and Jedi to re-play his role simply as a personal favor for Lucas.

Lucas can get his actors to do anything (except act of course). Maybe if we were all actors he might be nice to us.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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You know, Clive Revill is still alive. I wonder how he feels about this change...

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Clive Revell had no problem doing Jan Dodonna's voice for X-wing, so I doubt he has much of a problem with someone else redubbing his voice work in Empire. I don't think actors are half as attached to their roles as we are.
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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Ian would have been a far better human being if he had said no.
I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an Obi-Wan to go.

Red heads ROCK. Blondes do not rock. Nuff said.

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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
I was just wondering what George would have done if Ian McDiarmid thought like we do and refused to allow George to reshoot him for Empire Strikes Back. It's funny that George has all the power in the world when it comes to his Star Wars empire, but he would be completely thwarted if Ian had simply said, "No. I don't want to do this." What do you think his reaction would have been? I can almost see him holding his breath and jumping up and down like a toddler until Ian agreed. Or maybe going on an LFL killing spree because he couldn't have his way. Thoughts?


He still would have. You know why? Lucas can keep upping the cash amount until Ian agrees.
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Originally posted by: Scruffy
Not sure, but probably sued him for breach of contract and let everyone in the business know that Ian McDiarmid is a difficult actor to work with?


I was hoping someone would bring that up. I really don't think there would be a breach of contract, because his contract, at the time, was for Revenge of the Sith, a totally different movie than The Empire Strikes Back, so I don't think he'd be obligated to do so. And I don't think Lucas whining about him being difficult to work with would jeopardize his career. He's a very well-established actor, and the Hollywood community looks down on Lucas anyway.

And Jenny, I have no doubt that he's a prince to his actors. But I'm just saying if Ian had simply refused to do it on the same principles that we adhere to.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Isn't it obvious? He'd just secretly film Ian in his Sith makeup chatting with an extra while the cameras weren't rolling. Then they'd cobble together some crude dialogue from an Ian McDermid soundboard. The magic of technology triumphs again!
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I was hoping someone would bring that up. I really don't think there would be a breach of contract, because his contract, at the time, was for Revenge of the Sith, a totally different movie than The Empire Strikes Back, so I don't think he'd be obligated to do so.


I haven't read his contract, but if that's what it says, I guess that's what it says.
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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He seemed rather pleased about it in the Revenge of the Sith DVD features. In it, he says "I have been extraordinarily lucky to have been involved in these four... and now five, because I'm now part of The Empire strikes Back, films over the years."
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I'm not saying I've read his contract, either. It's possible it might be in there, but it just seems unlikely. And, Adam, I'm very aware that he is pleased. This is simply a hypothetical situation.

But branching from that topic, if Hayden had wanted to, and I already know he was thrilled too, Adam, couldn't he have sued George for using his likeness without his permission in Return of the Jedi?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Well, if Ian had say no for ESB, the solution is quite simple: GL would have made a CGI Emperor for ESB... no?

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I don't know what difference that would have made. The whole point was to "create" continuity between the movies. The original Emperor was technically fake, so this proposed CG Emperor would have been just the same thing with newer technology, since Ian's voice wouldn't have been available either.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape

But branching from that topic, if Hayden had wanted to, and I already know he was thrilled too, Adam, couldn't he have sued George for using his likeness without his permission in Return of the Jedi?


That was never officially confirmed. Only from a "supposed" interview with Hayden.
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Well, you're the one who keeps claiming there's proof that he did know, yet you keep on leaving us in the dark here.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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The interview I gave you was just as legitamate as the one you gave. In the one you gave, it claims he didn't, but in the video interview, he acts like he did. We shall never know until an OFFICIAL source explains it.
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Lucas could of gotten it done with Ian McDiarmid, one way or another.
BTW, who here has seen the Ian McDiarmid dialouge as re-edited by OCPMovie for ESB:Classic Edition. It is Ian, but redone so it doesn't have all the goofy dialouge changes, but the original dialouge. And it keeps the original ESB emperor. It was great, and if Lucas had re-done it that way, I would of approved of the change.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
The interview I gave you was just as legitamate as the one you gave. In the one you gave, it claims he didn't, but in the video interview, he acts like he did. We shall never know until an OFFICIAL source explains it.


No, in yours he just said he was excited about it, and you somehow interpreted that to mean he knew about it in advance.

And I'm curious, Number 20, how could he have done that scene without Ian and make it as close to Ian as he wanted?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Originally posted by: Number20

BTW, who here has seen the Ian McDiarmid dialouge as re-edited by OCPMovie for ESB:Classic Edition.


*raises hand*
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Thank GOD Ian agreed to do the prequals. He & Ewan McGregor were the only watchable things in AOTC & ROTS (even if his "Emperor" make up DID suck, and his voice had an enormous abount if FX on it). Hell, for my money, Ian McDiarmid's scenes in ROTJ are the only things worth watching. He SAVED that film.
"...all Jedi Had was a bunch of muppets." - Dante Hicks (Clerks)

Anakin was an OLD MAN when he died, therefore his ghost should be old too AND WITH EYEBROWS
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Like Rick McCallum said, Ian "nails" every line he is given. Ian McDiarmid is the Alec Guiness of the PT.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Like Rick McCallum said, Ian "nails" every line he is given. Ian McDiarmid is the Alec Guiness of the PT.


Normally I wouldn't take ANYTHING said by Rick McCallum seriously, because he's nothing but George Lucas' personal "fluff girl". But, this time, he's right on the money.

"...all Jedi Had was a bunch of muppets." - Dante Hicks (Clerks)

Anakin was an OLD MAN when he died, therefore his ghost should be old too AND WITH EYEBROWS
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Originally posted by: Scotty Balls
Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Like Rick McCallum said, Ian "nails" every line he is given. Ian McDiarmid is the Alec Guiness of the PT.


Normally I wouldn't take ANYTHING said by Rick McCallum seriously, because he's nothing but George Lucas' personal "fluff girl". But, this time, he's right on the money.


LOL, true.
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i thought ian was great as palpatine and sidious, but once he became the emperor in rots he really sucked and made the emperor of jedi look like a joke as far as im concerned