‘Star Wars’ Actors Ewan McGregor and Laura Dern Kept Making Sound Effects During Their Action Scenes
Star Wars will forever be known as one of the most influential and creative film franchises of all time. It’s original story, slick special effects, and unforgettable characters make it easy to understand why so many fans love the series.
And while fans love Stars Wars as if it’s a religion, the franchise’s actors are enamored as well; Several Star Wars actors, including Ewan McGregor and Laura Dern, have unintentionally been caught making sound effects during their battle scenes. It appears that even for the franchise’s stars, it’s difficult to let go of the childhood joy that Star Wars creates.
Ewan McGregor made lightsaber sounds during his battles
The Star Wars prequel trilogy has historically not been too popular amongst die-hard fans. The writing, dialogue, and characters featured in the prequel films contrasts starkly from that of their predecessors, but not everything got worse. In fact, the intense lightsaber duels and action scenes in the prequel trilogy trump the sequences in the original trilogy by a long shot.
George Lucas previously explained that lightsaber duels in the prequel films are much more impressive because the Jedi were in their prime. Because of this, Ewan McGregor, who played a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, was required to engage in a bunch of dazzling lightsaber battles. Unfortunately for the production team, McGregor, an avid Star Wars fan, was unable to refrain from making lightsaber sounds while filming The Phantom Menace.
“To begin with, it was quite difficult not to make the sound [impersonates lightsaber sound],” McGregor said in a BBC interview. “And also when it goes away, cause it makes that nice [impersonates lightsaber sound] noise when it goes down.”
Apparently, McGregor was making the sounds so much that the post-production crew had to edit in enhanced lightsaber sounds to cover up his voice.
Laura Dern made blaster noises while filming ‘The Last Jedi’
Even though it was nearly two decades later, Laura Dern found herself in the same situation. While filming The Last Jedi, Dern also struggled to keep from making sound effects as she shot her blaster. While initially promoting the film, she revealed the details behind the snafu in an interview on The Late Show.
“I didn’t know I did it, and I guess they were watching dailies and recognized it deeply, there is a moment where I get to have a space weapon in my hand, and I, I guess didn’t realize that I was back in my bedroom at eight years old doing the scene, I went ‘pew, pew’ as I—as I was [unintelligible]. They’ve taken the sound out, I don’t think you’ll hear that in the movie, hopefully.”
It seems this is common occurrence for Star Wars actors, since many of them are such huge fans of the franchise.
“I was so excited, I mean it’s Star Wars!” Dern exclaimed.
