Eight actors considered for Han Solo before Harrison Ford

Movieweb reports that several major actors were considered to play Han Solo when the character first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, a role ultimately associated with Harrison Ford.

The piece notes Ford has portrayed Solo in five films, while younger and alternate versions were played by Alden Ehrenreich and voiced by A.J. LoCascio and Kiff VandenHeuvel in Forces of Destiny. It recounts casting anecdotes: Al Pacino was reportedly offered the part but declined after saying he did not understand the script; Sylvester Stallone auditioned but stopped when he sensed George Lucas's lack of interest; Burt Reynolds said he turned the role down; Christopher Walken auditioned and later felt Ford was the right choice; Robert Englund had only Polaroids taken and recommended Mark Hamill for Luke Skywalker; Glynn Turman learned years later he had read for Solo but Lucas feared controversy over an interracial romance; James Caan was approached to help sell the film but chose other dramatic work; and Nick Nolte was considered and later voiced Kuiil in The Mandalorian.

The report underlines that while many prominent actors were in contention, Ford remained the enduring choice for the part, and several near-miss contenders went on to notable careers—Walken won an Oscar the following year and Nolte later returned to the franchise universe as a voice actor.

Key Topics

Culture, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Star Wars, Al Pacino