Famous Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, celebrated globally for his chilling performance in 'Hannibal', recently shared some unexpected behind-the-scenes details about his work in a major Hollywood franchise. The actor took a nostalgic trip back to his time on the set of a 'Star Wars' film, revealing a production process that was far from what he anticipated.
The Ever-Changing Script of a Galaxy Far, Far Away
In a candid conversation with Variety, Mikkelsen opened up about his experience working on the 2016 'Star Wars' prequel, 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'. The actor expressed his surprise at the fluid nature of the project's screenplay. Contrary to expectations for a blockbuster of such magnitude, the script was in a constant state of flux.
"For a Star Wars film, it was surprisingly unfinished in the script," Mikkelsen revealed. He added, "It kept changing. One would think that that was already done. I don't think they ever locked a draft." This continuous evolution of the story was a significant departure from the more rigid pre-production planning he might have expected.
Embracing the Creative Chaos
Despite the initial surprise, the acclaimed actor clarified that the frequent changes did not greatly disrupt his own performance. His character's arc remained relatively stable amidst the rewrites. Mikkelsen speculated on the creative reasoning behind the process, suggesting it was a quest for perfection.
"I think they kept working on it and improvised and went back and reshot stuff and then came up with a better idea," he explained. This iterative approach, while unorthodox, ultimately shaped the final product. Looking back, Mikkelsen concluded positively on the outcome, sharing that he felt "the film ended up being a quite cute and sweet film."
Mikkelsen's Role in the Star Wars Universe
In 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', Mads Mikkelsen portrayed the pivotal character of Galen Erso, a brilliant scientist coerced into designing the Empire's ultimate weapon. His character was the mastermind behind the Death Star's planet-destroying superlaser. In a act of covert rebellion, Galen Erso secretly engineered a critical flaw—a 'kill switch'—into the weapon's design, a vulnerability that would later allow the Rebel Alliance to destroy it.
The film, a direct prequel to the original 1977 'Star Wars', was directed by Gareth Edwards, known for his work on the 2014 'Godzilla' reboot. 'Rogue One' was praised for its gritty tone and its successful expansion of the Star Wars saga, telling a standalone story of sacrifice that seamlessly connected to the iconic original trilogy.
