“How Harrison Ford Became Han Solo: The Hollywood Legend Who Almost Took the Role”

Harrison Ford is now 80 years young. While many other actors of this age have long since retired (certainly also due to a lack of role offers), the Hollywood star is apparently far from thinking about retiring. On the streaming platform Paramount Plus he celebrates huge success in the western series “1923”. For his role in Shrink on Apple Plus the critics are currently celebrating him. And with Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Destiny, he returns to German cinemas for the last time on June 29, 2023 with a slouch hat and a whip. All these successes would probably not have come about if another Hollywood legend had snatched an iconic role from the young actor who worked as a carpenter at the time.

This Hollywood legend almost became Han Solo

Alfredo James Pacino is only a few weeks older than Harrison Ford. The Hollywood actor known as Al Pacino was a big star from 1972 thanks to The Godfather. In the course of the casting for George Lucas’ first science fiction film Star Wars, the Italian-born American was offered the role of Han Solo in 1976.

How Al Pacino recently noted in an interview, he was an extremely sought-after actor at the time. “They even offered to play Queen Elizabeth.” Al Pacino didn’t have to audition for a role in Star Wars, he was approached directly. “They gave me the script and offered me a lot of money”.

Al Pacino as Han Solo? The Hollywood legend declines

After reviewing the script of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, or Star Wars, Al Pacino was probably not quite convinced of George Lucas’ new project. The director succeeded shortly before with American Graffiti to land a surprise hit at the box office. Still, Al Pacino didn’t want to be part of the star saga after all. “I declined with thanks and made it possible the career von Harrison Ford”.