20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

16. Alec Guinness Took A Cut Of George Lucas' Royalties

Star Wars New Hope
Lucasfilm

You're probably aware that Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Alec Guinness had "complicated" feelings about acting in Star Wars, deeming the material "fairy-tale rubbish" though nevertheless believing that it would indeed be commercially successful.

Guinness' involvement was important enough to Lucas that he agreed to give him 2% of his own royalties for the film, and as added payment for some revisions Guinness made to the script, eventually bumped the number to 2.25%.

This ensured Guinness became enormously wealthy throughout the decades as Star Wars' popularity soared, and as of 2009 his estate had earned a reported $95 million from the deal. Not bad for fairytale rubbish, eh Alec?

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.