Star Wars: Actors Who Almost Played Han Solo Before Harrison Ford
It’s impossible to imagine anyone else other than Harrison Ford playing Han Solo in Star Wars, but George Lucas considered some other big names before. One of the hallmarks of the original trilogy is the chemistry between Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Each of their careers has been defined by their roles in the galaxy far, far away, but it was Ford who ended up having the biggest working relationship with Lucas.
Ford had a small role in Lucas’ directorial debut American Grafitti and was ready to continue his career as a carpenter prior to fate intervening. He was not supposed to audition for Han Solo, but happened to start reading for the part to test other actors. Ultimately, Lucas saw that Ford was the right choice to play the now-iconic smuggler, but that was not always going to be the case. Instead, Lucas was meeting with a wide variety of actors, including some that were much bigger names than Ford. Here are some of the other actors he met with.
Al Pacino
A few years removed from the first two Godfather films, Lucas wanted Al Pacino to play Han Solo. Pacino has confirmed in previous interviews that he passed on the opportunity noting that he didn’t understand the film and felt he was wanted more for his star power.
Kurt Russell
Prior to breaking out as an actor in the 1980s with films like Escape from New York and The Thing, Kurt Russell could’ve done so as Han Solo in Star Wars. His audition tape for the role can be found online, giving fans a rare insight into what could’ve been.
Sylvester Stallone
Another mega-star who could’ve been Han Solo is Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, although Rocky had not yet hit theaters when Lucas was casting the role. Stallone has confirmed his audition for the part and said that he admitted to Lucas that he would not be a good fit for the role.
Robert Englund
Before he was known as Freddy Kruger, Robert Englund auditioned to play Han Solo. Although Englund didn’t get the part, he did prove to be instrumental in the foundation of Star Wars, as it was he who urged his friend Mark Hamill to audition for the part of Luke Skywalker.
Christopher Walken
If Ford did not become Han Solo, Christopher Walken would likely be who played him instead. According to How Star Wars Conquered The Universe, Walken was Lucas’ second choice for the role, which could’ve served as Walken’s breakout appearance.
Glynn Turman
George Lucas also brought Glynn Turman in for an audition, one he has since said he had no idea was for Han Solo. Unfortunately, Lucas was not sure how the public would respond to an interracial romance between Han and Leia, which was a factor in the director going in another direction.
Burt Reynolds
The same year he starred in Smokey and the Bandit, an alternate universe could’ve seen Burt Reynolds play Han Solo instead. He has said in interviews that he passed on the opportunity because he felt it was too similar to other roles he’d done. But, he also admitted that he regretted that decision afterward.
Nick Nolte
Many years before playing The Mandalorian‘s Ugnaught Kuiil aka the show’s best character, Nick Nolte could’ve been Han Solo instead. This would’ve served as Nolte’s big break as his career moved from the small screen to the big screen. He has since said that he would’ve been a goofy Han Solo and probably not the right fit.
Tom Selleck
Not only did Tom Selleck miss out on playing Indiana Jones (a role that later went to Harrison Ford), he was also reportedly considered to be Han Solo a few years earlier. Neither Selleck or Lucas have confirmed this to be the case, but Robert Englund has said that Selleck was among the contenders to join Star Wars and play the smuggler.
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