It might be difficult for Star Wars fans to imagine turning down a role in Lucasfilm's galaxy far, far away, but it seems like The Godfather legend Al Pacino actually turned down the opportunity to appear in the very first Star Wars movie.
According to a report by Cheat Sheet, Pacino was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history to walk away from the chance to play a major role in Star Wars: A New Hope. George Lucas had offered Pacino the role of Han Solo in 1977, hoping that the actor's star power would help bring more viewers in. Back then, the actor had already appeared in high-profile films like The Godfather and its sequel. He had also been offered leading roles in major movies like Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now and Pretty Woman.
Because of these projects, Pacino declined the role of Han Solo, a part that would have added to his stature and to his wealth. The role eventually went to Harrison Ford, an actor Star Wars fans all know and love as the gritty smuggler that joins Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) n the battle against the Dark Side.
Han Solo earned Ford an impressive net worth. The actor was offered $25 million alone to appear in Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy – money that would have gone to Pacino had accepted the role years ago.
Still, while it might seem like a shame to The Godfather actor, Star Wars fans are pretty happy with Ford's rendition of the character.
The Skywalker saga is available for streaming on Disney+.
Read: John Boyega Doubles Down on Previous Comments About Star Wars
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Star Wars