George Lucas Originally Didn't Want Harrison Ford In 'Star Wars'

Actor Harrison Ford is as well known for his role as Han Solo as he is for Indiana Jones. However, his role in “Star Wars” almost did not come to pass.

Although creator George Lucas, who just turned 78 on Saturday, reached massive success with the franchise, he originally did not want Ford to appear in the first “Star Wars” movie, “A New Hope,” which premiered on May 25, 1977.

It seems hard to imagine anyone other than Harrison Ford playing the iconic smuggler in a galaxy far, far away.

Before he started flying the Millennium Falcon through space, Ford had already been cast in several other movies and TV shows. He had actually been working as a self-taught carpenter before Lucas cast him in his second movie, "American Graffiti."

Ford had a supporting role as driver Bob Falfa, who constantly kept trying to challenge other people to compete with him in drag races. Although he didn't having a starring role in the film, it might have helped him secure a role in the 1974 movie "The Conversation," which was directed by the legendary Francis Ford Coppola.

By the time "Star Wars" came about, Lucas told Ford that he was not allowed to audition for the role. According to IMDb, Lucas did not want to use any actors that had appeared in his previous films cast in "Star Wars." Since Ford had already appeared in "American Graffiti," he was out of the running.

But that didn't mean that Ford wasn't involved with "Star Wars" from the start. Since he couldn't audition, Lucas asked him if he wouldn't mind reading lines with actors playing various parts in the film and Ford agreed.

However, even while he was just reading lines, it was clear that Ford was a stand-out from the start. Ford also had natural chemistry with Mark Hamill, who was cast as Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher, who was cast as Princess Leia Organa. Lucas eventually realized that there was no one better suited for the role and decided to give Ford the part of Han Solo after all.

As The Blast previously reported, James Earl Jones, the voice of Sith Lord Darth Vader, was only paid $7,000 dollars for his work on "A New Hope."

Ford made slightly more money: $10,000 dollars, although he made significantly more for reprising his role as Han Solo in "The Empire Strikes Back" and 1983's "Return of the Jedi," which closed out the original trilogy.

The main cast didn't return to a galaxy far, far away until many decades later. Goerge Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 and the first movie in the sequel trilogy, "The Force Awakens," came out in 2015.

Although Ford met his demise at the hands of his son, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), in the film, it's reported that he made a cool $10 to $20 million dollars for his appearance. Ford also had a small cameo role in "The Rise of Skywalker," where he helps his son, Ben Solo, come back to the light side.

It remains to be seen if Ford will ever return to a galaxy far, far away. Rumors were swirling that he filmed a small part as a de-aged Han Solo for the Disney+ "Star Wars" live-action series "The Book of Boba Fett," which is a spin-off of "The Mandalorian." However, Ford never appeared. It's possible that the footage will be used in a different Disney project, or perhaps it was never shot at all.

Even if Ford never returns to "Star Wars," he will return as Indiana Jones one last time. The fifth movie in the franchise finally finished filming in February of this year. Filming was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and postponed even further even Ford hurt his shoulder while rehearing a fight scene last summer. Although he didn't return to set until October, the 79-year-old actor still managed to find time to pose with fans and even help a crew member who was having a heart attack on set.

Fans are looking forward to the last time they can see Ford on-screen as Indiana Jones. Although the fifth movie in the franchise has no definitive release date, it is expected to be released some time in 2023.