Nick Gillard, stunt coordinator, discussed the casting of Darth Maul in the Star Wars prequels during an interview with Chris Castellani. He revealed that Ray Park was chosen after considering various actors, emphasizing the need for a performer with strong physicality. Gillard humorously recounted a moment when casting director Robin Gurland mistakenly suggested him for the role. He also mentioned a desire to cast Tricky, the musician from Massive Attack, highlighting the unique casting journey that ultimately led to Park’s iconic portrayal.
Unveiling the Casting Journey of Darth Maul
In a fascinating discussion with Chris Castellani on *Chris And Company* last September, stunt coordinator Nick Gillard shared intriguing insights about the casting process for the iconic character of Darth Maul in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Interestingly, Gillard revealed that two alternative actors were almost selected for the role before Ray Park was ultimately cast.
When asked if Ray Park was originally intended to be Darth Maul or simply serve as a stunt double, Gillard clarified the situation. “*He wasn’t a stuntman. […] Ray was a gymnast. One of my friends was working on a film called Mortal Kombat just before The Phantom Menace and used Ray as a gymnast. When I started searching for a Darth Maul, he recommended Ray to me, which led to our connection. Initially, many well-known actors were considered for the role, but I always believed it should go to a stuntman. As I mentioned to Robin Gurland, the casting director, the character has only two lines of dialogue, and the rest is all about physicality, along with four hours of makeup. We needed someone who could double, so we decided to go with a stuntman, and she agreed.*”
Gillard elaborated, “*I wanted to ensure we found the perfect fit. I took my time with the search. At one point, Robin came into my office with a stuntman registry and excitedly pointed out a candidate she thought was ideal, claiming he looked like a heroin addict, which was what we needed! What she didn’t notice was that she was showcasing my own page; she hadn’t looked closely at the photo. I told her, ‘You will never get this guy.’ When she asked why, I reminded her, ‘Robin, it’s me!’ She exclaimed, ‘You’re perfect, you should play it!’ I explained that I didn’t have the time for four hours of makeup. That’s how we ended up with Ray. He was absolutely perfect for the role, combining gymnastic skills with the physicality we required, which is why we fought hard for him to become Darth Maul.*”
Tricky: The Unexpected Choice for Darth Maul
When the conversation turned to rumors about Benicio Del Toro being considered for the role, Gillard remained tight-lipped but did reveal another intriguing name from the casting discussions. “*I’ll tell you that the one I wanted was Tricky. He is a singer. He was part of a group called Massive Attack, and at one point, it was supposed to be him. I would have loved to see his interpretation of the character.*”
Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws, known professionally as Tricky, is a British producer and rapper who emerged from the influential Bristol underground music scene. His work with Massive Attack and various artists helped define the trip hop genre, blending elements from hip hop, jazz, blues, electronic music, soul, rock, and dub.
Ultimately, despite the exciting possibilities, Ray Park secured the role and brought Darth Maul to life in a way that fans will always remember.
The entire Star Wars saga, including the prequel trilogy, is available exclusively on Disney+.
Don’t miss Nick Gillard’s insights in the video below: