What Happens When You’re Almost Anakin Skywalker But Don’t Get The Part? You End Up At Sundance!

by Merrick
AICN1.22.08

Back in 2000, the website Ain’t It Cool News broke the news that a guy named “Jeff” Garner was the front runner for the role of Anakin Skywalker in STAR WARS EPISODE II.

This stuck for a bit, then…suddenly…Hayden Christensen was said to have won the part. As is often the case with the ADD Internet community, no one ever followed up on that Garner lead…and the Legend of “Jeff” quickly became a forgotten footnote in Geek lore.

Harry ran those pieces. While there were a few errors in the articles’ biographical information, the thrust of his reporting was correct: “Jeff” (now “Jett”) Garner was, indeed, on the fast track to becoming Anakin Skywalker.

Clearly, he didn’t make it.

What I love about this story is that it’s not about someone famous; it’s actually about someone fame eluded on several occasions. But there are no sour grapes here, no bitter resentment. Instead…to me at least…Jett is a powerful reminder that, sometimes, losing what appear to be opportunities of a lifetime can actually lead to other opportunities…and to a happiness greater than any we may otherwise have known…

CLICK HERE to read the interview with Jett.

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(On a personal note, Jett is both a good friend and good person who I’ve known and worked with going on almost 5 years now. To see him start a family, continue to grow his craft and ultimately make it to the Sundance Film Festival with his film, Baghead, is pretty damn satisfying and inspiring. Congratulations Jett!)