Hollywood actor Denis Lawson has turned down the chance to appear in the new Star Wars films because they would have “bored him”.
The Crieff-born star said he had been approached by Disney, which bought Lucasfilm in 2012, but turned them down.
The 66-year-old played X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in all three films of the original trilogy. In 2001, he provided the voiceover for the character’s appearance in a Nintendo computer game.
Lawson made the revelation at a screening of his most recent film, The Machine, at Strathearn Artspace in his home town.
When asked if the next new Denis Lawson film to be screened there would be Star Wars, he replied: “I’m not going to do that.”
Asked if it was because Disney had taken over the franchise, he replied: “They asked me but it just would have bored me.”
He did not elaborate on why he had declined the part and it is unknown if his nephew, Ewan McGregor, will reprise his role as Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The Machine was the first new film to be show in Crieff since its cinema closed in 1983.
Lawson attended the red carpet event with his mother, Phyllis, and the pair were welcomed to Strathearn Artspace by piper Finn Mannion.
The actor revealed he was instrumental in helping project leaders David Campbell and Tom Barron get permission to use the former public library on Comrie Street.
He said: “Right at the inception, Dave and Tom got in touch with me. At the time they didn’t have the building they couldn’t get permission to use it.
“They asked me to sign a letter and I got in touch with Brian Cox and he signed it and my nephew Ewan signed it and Gerard Butler. They all got on board and that really pushed that element through and they (David and Tom) got permission to use the building.
“That’s how I got to know about it and was happy to get it moving.
“They have a brilliant scheme to refurbish the building and turn it into a cinema, a music venue and they’ve already done stand up and art classes. Their designs for it are just brilliant.
“They need to raise £360,000 to achieve what they want to achieve with it but they are already constantly running events in the space.
“My connection’s with Crieff it’s where I was brought up and I was always very sad that I came home many years ago and the cinema was gone.
“This project will bring people back into Crieff, and I think that’s brilliant.”