Wedge Antilles was asked back for Ep. VII, declined; "Would have bored me"

IGN

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While a large portion of the original gang is back for Star Wars: Episode VII -- including Han, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, C3PO and R2-D2 -- we now have confirmation that ace Rebellion pilot Wedge Antilles will not be back for the new installment.

According to TheCourier, actor Denis Lawson (who played Wedge in all three original trilogy films), said he chose not to appear in Episode VII when asked, saying, “I’m not going to do that…They asked me but it just would have bored me.”

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Lawson had indicated a few months ago that he’d only like to return to the role if it was bigger than it was in the original films. Lawson did return, however, in a voice-over role for the 2001 video game Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. Lawson’s Wedge was the lead character in the game, so we can understand (based on Lawson’s demands) why he’d want to reprise the role.

Well, Wedge was one of the rare fighter pilots to survive three films, so we can only assume he also survived 30 years after Return of the Jedi (exploring the galaxy in his X-Wing, perhaps). Lawson just so happens to be the uncle of Star Wars prequels star Ewan McGregor.

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Probably one of the more endearing characters from the Star Wars universe that never really got any significant screen time. I totally get his decision.


I'd say by this time, Wedge would be a high commander in whatever they have going on (wouldn't still be the rebellion, would it?), and they could probably give him a pretty significant role. But more than likely they'd have a shot of him flying an X-wing, have him spot off a line or two, and be done with it.