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.