Al Pacino Turned Down the Role of Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy remains one of the most iconic performances in movie history.
The role would eventually make Harrison Ford a star and Han Solo a pop culture icon, but as it turns out, Ford almost never got his chance to shine.
In a recent interview with Variety, legendary actor Al Pachino revealed that he was initially offered the role of Han Solo, but ended up turning it down.
“Well, I turned down ‘Star Wars.’ When I first came up, I was the new kid on the block, you know what happens when you first become famous. It’s like, ‘Give it to Al.’ They’d give me Queen Elizabeth to play.”
Pachino Didn’t Understand ‘Star Wars’
While Pachino read the script for the film that would eventually become Star Wars: A New Hope, he didn’t understand it.
“They gave me a script called ‘Star Wars.’ … They offered me so much money. I don’t understand it. I read it. … So I said I couldn’t do it.” Pachino recalled.
After the role was turned down by Pacino, Burt Reynolds, and Glynn Turman, it eventually fell to Ford.
A Hollywood “What If?”
Pacino for one thinks he deserves some credit for helping Harrison Ford launch his career.
“I gave Harrison Ford a career.” he quipped.
The role of Han Solo would launch Harrison Ford into superstardom, and the idea of another actor playing the role now seems unimaginable.
Al Pacino playing Han Solo would have drastically changed the character and remains one of the great “what ifs” in Star Wars history.
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