Al Pacino was ‘offered a fortune' to play iconic Star Wars character – but didn't ‘understand' the script
The award-winning actor, known for his roles in Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather trilogy, as well as films such as Heat and Dog Day Afternoon, was offered the part in the mid-1970s after he had appeared in the second Godfather film.
The part of roguish space pilot Han Solo ultimately went to Harrison Ford and launched him to global stardom. The character would go on to become one of the most beloved in the history of cinema, returning in several Star Wars sequels and, in 2018, becoming the focus of a prequel film starring Alden Ehrenreich.
Speaking about the decision to turn down Star Wars, Pacino (85) reminisced to Entertainment Weekly about his association with the 'Movie Brats' – an unofficial group of pioneering New Hollywood filmmakers that included Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese and Star Wars creator George Lucas.
'They were real idealists coming into the 1970s with great films all over the globe,' he said.
'So I loved their work, but I was doing a show on Broadway at the time, and they handed me this script, and I thought, I don't understand,' Pacino added, referring to Lucas's Star Wars screenplay. 'I must be out of space myself.'
Pacino sought advice from a friend before ultimately turning down the role. 'I looked at this thing and I sent it to Charlie Laughton, my friend and mentor, actually. I said, 'What do you make of this?' He was pretty wise and he said, 'I don't get it, Al. I dunno. I don't get it.' I said, 'Well, I don't either; what are we going to do?'
'They offered me a fortune, but I don't know. No, I can't play something if I don't speak the language.'
Nonetheless, Pacino seems to have little cause for regret and joked about his own part in propelling Ford to stardom. 'I said, 'I think I'm in the mood to make Harrison Ford a career'.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Al Pacino was ‘offered a fortune' to play iconic Star Wars character – but didn't ‘understand' the script
The award-winning actor, known for his roles in Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather trilogy, as well as films such as Heat and Dog Day Afternoon, was offered the part in the mid-1970s after he had appeared in the second Godfather film. The part of roguish space pilot Han Solo ultimately went to Harrison Ford and launched him to global stardom. The character would go on to become one of the most beloved in the history of cinema, returning in several Star Wars sequels and, in 2018, becoming the focus of a prequel film starring Alden Ehrenreich. Speaking about the decision to turn down Star Wars, Pacino (85) reminisced to Entertainment Weekly about his association with the 'Movie Brats' – an unofficial group of pioneering New Hollywood filmmakers that included Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese and Star Wars creator George Lucas. 'They were real idealists coming into the 1970s with great films all over the globe,' he said. 'So I loved their work, but I was doing a show on Broadway at the time, and they handed me this script, and I thought, I don't understand,' Pacino added, referring to Lucas's Star Wars screenplay. 'I must be out of space myself.' Pacino sought advice from a friend before ultimately turning down the role. 'I looked at this thing and I sent it to Charlie Laughton, my friend and mentor, actually. I said, 'What do you make of this?' He was pretty wise and he said, 'I don't get it, Al. I dunno. I don't get it.' I said, 'Well, I don't either; what are we going to do?' 'They offered me a fortune, but I don't know. No, I can't play something if I don't speak the language.' Nonetheless, Pacino seems to have little cause for regret and joked about his own part in propelling Ford to stardom. 'I said, 'I think I'm in the mood to make Harrison Ford a career'.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Brits recognise extract from the Lord's Prayer over famous line from Star Wars, reveals poll
AN extract from the Lord's Prayer is more recognisable than a famous line in Star Wars, according to a poll. More people also identified 3 Archbishop of York says The Lord's Prayer remains a 'steady guide' that still resonates with people of all faiths and none Credit: PA Some 80.3 per cent knew ' It beat the 79.9 per cent recognising ' 'To be or not to be' from Shakespeare play Hamlet was identified by 73 per cent. Some 63 per cent matched 'happy and glorious, long to reign over us' with God Save The King in the Church of England's poll of 2,000-plus people. READ MORE UK NEWS Mr Cottrell is leading a "tour" of events at churches and cathedrals across the north of England as part of his Faith In The North initiative, with a focus on the prayer. He said: "These results reflect what we've been hearing across the north of England through our Faith In The North initiative, which invites people to explore the Lord's Prayer. "Lines like 'Give us this day our daily bread' speak powerfully to today's challenges, reminding us to seek sufficiency, not excess, and to consider what 'enough' truly means." Most read in The Sun Scottish Star Wars superfan's dream comes true after coming to rescue of show 3 3 More Brits recognised a line from the Lord's Prayer than 'May the Force be with you' from Star Wars, according to a new poll Credit: Alamy WHAT ARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER The contemporary Lord's Prayer reads as follows: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Nepo baby with rock star dad and Hollywood A-list mum releases song moaning about being rich – can you guess who she is?
IT'S a hard life being part of Hollywood royalty – and this nepo baby pop star-in-the-making wants to make sure everyone knows it. But can you guess who this star's famous family are? 7 Romy Mars sends up life as an A-Lister in her new single Credit: YouTube / Romy Mars 7 The 18-year-old is primped by stylists in the clip Credit: YouTube / Romy Mars 7 The pop singer is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola Credit: AFP In a cheeky parody of life in the limelight, new single A-Listers gives the highs and lows of being rich, from someone who has lived in it from the start. Romy Mars, 18, dropped the song and music video this week, with A-Lister's lyrics talking about how empty fame and fortune actually is. She croons in the first verse: 'Grant all of my wishes, riches to riches, and one day I'll be bored with everything that I've got. 'Get out of fancy clothes right after they get the shot, Recreate scenes from Titanic on a flying bridge yacht.' Romy knows the feeling better than most thanks to her famous family on both sides of her genetic line. Her mother, She follows in the footsteps of her own father, the legendary Godfather director, Francis Ford Coppola. Romy's father is French musician and Phoenix frontman, Thomas Mars, whom Sofia met on the set of the Virgin Suicides in 1999 but got together with in the late 2000's. Most read in Entertainment The pair have been married since 2011, and have two daughters, Romy and Cosima, both of whom have picked up their creative flair. In the accompanying music video, Romy is seen being primped and pampered for a photoshoot, in between scenes of a runaway marriage, fighting through a crowd of paparazzi cameras, and spending a day by a pool in a mansion. The Bling Ring - Teaser Trailer 'I love this golden sunny West Coast, sceney plastic world,' she sings. 'I miss being a real girl, sure, but I'm not a real girl anymore.' After watching the video, fans commented that it reminds them of Paris Hilton's music career. Her launch into music comes two years The video racked up millions of views before it was eventually deleted, with her parents banning the then-16-year-old from having public social media accounts. She's since leaned into her privileged image, releasing an EP last year titled Stuck Up. 7 Romy is one of Sofia Coppola's two daughters Credit: Getty 7 The teen got in trouble at 16 for 'trying to charter a private jet to see her friend' Credit: Getty 7 Romy got her musical flair from her dad, French musician Thomas Mars Credit: Getty 7 Romy laments on living in a 'plastic world' in the song Credit: YouTube / Romy Mars
