How Star Wars Made An Icon Out Of Han Solo

Casting

Four decades on, it’s now the stuff of legend that Harrison Ford was never meant to be Han Solo. Having worked together on a previous production, George Lucas hired him only to read through lines with other actors during the casting process – but, this proved to be one long audition in itself, and Lucas cast him as Han Solo on the strength of those line readings. This meant that, not only did Lucas have a great actor in the role, but he also had the chemistry between the three leads – Ford, Fisher, and Hamill – that had been evident during line readings. It’s this casting that really adds the flavour to what’s an otherwise well-trod, classic plot.

By mixing this casting with the strong introduction to Han Solo, the mystery of his past combines with the element of throwing contrasting personalities together in an extreme survival situation – which is what helps keep the first-time audience on the edge of their seat. While Luke, Leia and Obi-Wan have motivations ranging from personal tragedy to saving the galaxy, Han Solo is initially motivated by the needs of whoever pays him the most credits – which makes him a wild-card when the chips are down.

But then, as the franchise progresses, we see the character change as he commits to helping his friends, as opposed to gaining profit. This is brought into stark relief when Lando Calrissian is introduced in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. The casting of Billy Dee Williams is key here, because he’s able to play his character in such a nuanced fashion, that he can call back to the history he shares with Han Solo before he developed a sense of loyalty to the Rebellion, while giving us a glimpse of what Han might have been had he chosen a different path.

A Team Of Characters

It’s the contrast between characters that creates tension outside of that caused by the central conflict that’s the foundation of the plot. As the Empire and the Rebellion jostle for victory, so do Han, Luke and Leia jostle for leadership of their little group. Each of them has a sense of entitlement – Luke, because he’s a whiny teen, raised as an only child, who wants to pursue adventure through the stars and has been told that it is, essentially, his destiny; Leia, because she’s an actual Princess who has been raised as a planetary leader; and Han, because he’s spent years living and working as a law unto himself.

As they each reveal their motivations and histories, it’s the mysterious life of Han Solo that makes him stand out amid the trio, however. Luke may have a growing connection to the Force, and Leia may have an understanding of politics and strategy, but it’s Han who’s got experience of dealing with Bad Guys on a regular basis – because he’s spent years treading a fine line between profit and crime.

They each believe themselves to be right, though, and make great sport of highlighting when the others are wrong. While this builds in tension, it also provides the common ground from which the bonds of friendship and intimacy spring.