Windu Mace is an extremely important and fan-favorite character in Star Warsbut Mace actor Samuel L. Jackson clearly had no idea he was going to play a Jedi in Star Wars movies and TV shows. While Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin can often be seen as Star Wars’ The most powerful Jedi, Mace Windu, should not be overlooked.
Since its beginnings in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom MenaceMace was found to have great power, great wisdom, and great influence. In fact, the prequel trilogy and Star Wars: The Clone Wars reinforced how important Mace really was. Again, Samuel L. Jackson revealed that he initially had no idea he was playing a Jedi..
How Samuel Jackson Learned He Was a Jedi
Jackson’s love for Star Wars It’s no secret, and it was true even before he landed a role in the franchise. In fact, according to Slash MovieJackson was ready to play any Star Wars character – even a stormtrooper – if George Lucas was willing to give him a chance.
But what is more surprising is the fact that the true nature of his role was a secret even to Jacksonuntil he is on the board. In the same article, Jackson reportedly explained:
“Once they started putting Jedi robes on me, I was like, ‘Hey, who is this guy? It’s going to be cool.’ So there was no way I wasn’t going to do it.”
Knowing how much secrecy often surrounds Star Wars films, it’s not a major shock, but it’s funny to imagine Samuel L. Jackson having no idea how big and iconic his character was about to become. However, the extent of Mace Windu’s power was not yet clear, even in this film.
Jackson was unable to use his lightsaber until Attack of the Clones
Although Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber is now absolutely iconic and remains one of the rarest lightsaber colors in the world, Star Wars, we didn’t actually see Mace Windu with his lightsaber until Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. In The Phantom MenaceMace was part of the Council and he had several key scenes.
Yet we didn’t see this brilliant Jedi duelist in action until the Battle of Geonosis in 2007. Attack of the Clones. Arguably it wasn’t even his best lightsaber work, like the confrontation between Mace and Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (in which Mace unfortunately dies, at the end) remains one of his best character moments.
It’s hard to imagine Windu Mace to be something other than a Jedi in Star Warsbecause he has such power and presence and because we have now seen what he can do, but this was obviously news to Samuel L. Jackson once he had already signed up for the job.
