It’s a good time to be a Star Wars fan. After waiting years for a new addition into the universe, and after suffering through the less than ideal prequel trilogy, we were finally treated to the magic that is The Force Awakens. Additionally, Disney plans on giving us standalone films, resulting in one new Star Wars entry every year. Perhaps the most anticipated of these films is the upcoming young Han Solo adventure. Few casting searches have been hyped up and magnified than the search for the new Solo. A short list was revealed a few months ago, sparking debate among who should rock Han’s jacket and blaster. One of the actors on the short list, Dave Franco, recently spoke to his experience when auditioning for the role, and if he tried to channel Harrison Ford while reading.
No, I’m not good with impressions or anything like that. I think that’s the reason why it’s so hard to cast this role. Do they want someone to perfectly embody who Harrison Ford is, or do they want to go a completely different route? Do they want someone to look really similar to him? I don’t know, I think they’re struggling with that.
This statement, which comes to us from MTV, brings up a really good point. How much Harrison Ford should be in the new Star Wars flick?
It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Han Solo besides Harrison Ford. His perfect balance of bravado, tough guy exterior, and hidden vulnerability is what made Han Solo such a fan favorite. This juxtaposition is no easy feat to pull off as an actor, at least without making him seem like an unlikeable asshole.
While Dave Franco didn’t try to do an impression of Harrison Ford, it’s likely that many of the Solo hopefuls did their best adaptation of the scruffy looking nerf-herder. While actors yearn to make roles their own, you can’t help but try to channel Ford in an attempt to convince the folks on the other side of the table that you’re right for the part.
Dave Franco seems to feel that his name is no longer being talked about in regards to the Han Solo film, but it still humbled and thrilled to have been seen in the first place. And who knows? Perhaps the originality in his interpretation of Han Solo will inspire the casting folks to put him in the film in a different role. While Franco has been working pretty regularly, a role in a Star Wars film could truly be a star-making moment.
We’ll continue to update you on all things Star Wars and Han Solo as details become public to us. The next adventure into the Star Wars universe will be Star Wars: Rogue One on December 16th, 2016.
