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Freddy Krueger is Why Mark Hamill Was Luke Skywalker

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I imagine that no matter where you are in your career, an actor is thrilled at doing an audition for a potentially huge role, one that will be as exciting for them as it will be for audiences. Obviously, these auditions matter far more early in a career as they can result in the next big break, so to speak.

A fun story has emerged from Brisbane’s Oz Comic-Con, where Robert Englund, known for his iconic performances as A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Freddy Krueger, was interviewed and dished on how he pushed Mark Hamill to audition for a little movie by the name of Star Wars.

Speaking with Force Material, Englund explains that Hamill was constantly crashing on his couch, so he pushed the actor to give it a shot. However, the story begins with Englund himself auditioning for the role of Han Solo!

Well, here’s what happened. I auditioned for the surfer in Apocalypse Now, and I was too old. I really thought I was going to nail it… I didn’t get the part, and as I started to leave, they said, ‘Wait, Robert, they’re doing something across the hall with George Lucas’. And I perked right up when I heard ‘George Lucas’, because I love American Graffiti. It’s a perfect movie. The perfect film about my generation. I love it. So my eyes lit up and I went across the hall.

He continues, explaining, “They wanted an older Han Solo at that point. They wanted him to be like that cool uncle who just comes around once a year, you know? Luke Skywalker’s cool uncle who smokes a joint with him or something. At least that’s what they were talking about in the office with me. They just took Polaroids of me and that was it. I could tell I was too young.

Here’s where things get interesting. “At that time, Mark Hamill was always on my couch… He was filming a TV series across the street… So he was always at my place, and I knew he was home because his cowboy boots were out front. He always left his boots outside. So there he was, halfway through a six-pack, watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I went in and I said to him, ‘Look at these sides, I think you’re right for this, man. This character is like a space prince, and it’s George Lucas!’

His prodding worked, as Hamill made the effort to make it happen. “…I was just saying, ‘Wow, what if you got to be in a George Lucas movie, Mark? You’re the kind of actor he loves!’ So he got on the phone to his agent and the rest is history.

Englund explains all of this to set the record straight, although he does manage to sneak in a little joke about the whole topic. “That’s the true story. But the internet wants to make it like, you know, I turned down the part of Luke Skywalker for Mark Hamill. I would never have turned it down! Fucking Mark never even paid rent!

The rest of the story can be perused at the above link and it’s actually a great read! Englund seems like he has some phenomenal stories. One can only hope he decides to write a book of various anecdotes he’s gone through.

Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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