A legendary Hollywood performer turned down a role in Star Wars because he "didn't understand" the plot. George Lucas' science-fiction classic was released in 1977 and evolved into one of the most recognisable franchises in film history. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill became megastars off the back of the film while recognisable screen legends like Alec Guinness also featured in supporting roles. But one actor who turned down a lead part in the original film says he did so because he could not understand the plot.
A post to Reddit has seen fans of the superstar actor, who would have played Han Solo, discuss how he would have fared in the role. They wrote: "Al Pacino was offered the role of Han Solo after his success in The Godfather but turned it down because he couldn't understand it." The role, which later went to Harrison Ford, captured audiences for decades to come, and it appears to have been the right choice.
One fan wrote: "I’d imagine that accepting acting roles is sort of like swinging at pitches in baseball where you really shouldn’t swing at every pitch or accept every offer. Would it be fair to say that a certain amount of Star Wars success is because the main cast wasn’t really that well known before the movie?. "Would Carrie Fisher be the best known cast member aside from Alec Guinness? And even then, Carrie Fisher wasn’t as known as her parents until the movie." Another suggested the supporting actor Peter Cushing was perhaps the best known actor in the film aside from Guinness.
They wrote: "Peter Cushing was probably the biggest name aside from Guinness." Other fans of the film franchise say viewers "lucked out" by getting Ford as Han Solo instead of Pacino. They wrote: "We definitely lucked out that Harrison Ford was eventually chosen. Pacino was too boyish at that time. Ford had a much scruffier look, which I think fits the role better.". Another considered the "bankable" list of stars who tend to be offered roles, but often turn them down. They wrote: "The studios will always have a shortlist of ‘bankable’ stars who they want on the poster whether they’re suitable or not.
"Recognising that you’re not cut out for a role and turning it down is best for everyone. Imagine if we’d had Sean Connery instead of Ian McKellan as Gandalf.". Some fans suggested Ford also did not "understand" the role but, as he had worked with Lucas in the past, felt more inclined to take the role. They wrote: "Harrison Ford didn’t understand it either, but that didn’t stop him from taking the part.".
