Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRachel McGrathFriday 26 June 2026 13:05 BSTJodie Foster reveals why she turned down leading Stars Wars roleJodie Foster revealed that her 2005 film Flightplan, in which she plays a mother whose daughter disappears on a plane, was originally written for a male lead, with Sean Penn initially considered for the part.Foster suggested gender-swapping the role, believing it would create a “better movie” by exploring themes of “female hysteria” and the experience of a woman not being believed.She expressed pride in her character's arc, stating that the film's ending, where her daughter asks “Are we there yet?” after Foster's character has overcome adversity, reflects “the story of every woman’s life”.Foster is currently promoting her new film, A Private Life, a mystery thriller directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, which marks her first fully French-speaking role as a Parisian psychiatrist.Her extensive acting career began at the age of three, notably including her acclaimed role as a child sex worker in Martin Scorsese's 1976 film Taxi Driver, a project she recently discussed with the director at the Tribeca Film Festival.In fullJodie Foster reveals blockbuster role was actually written for a man: ‘Sean Penn was going to play it’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in