Innumerable movies or series have blanketed Harrison Ford through the years, including Blade Runner and Indiana Jones. But Star Wars has been undoubtedly the biggest success of this career. George Lucas, the film’s director, chose Ford for the 1970s movie before anyone was aware of the series, to play Han Solo in the first Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
But Ford was bored with Han Solo by the time Return of the Jedi was being produced in 1982. According to the actor, he made a valiant effort to ensure that the figure did not survive the events of Return of the Jedi.
Why Harrison Ford Wanted Han Solo To Die In Return Of The Jedi?
Long before the character died in The Force Awakens, Harrison Ford is rumored to have wanted Han Solo, the mercenary turned Rebel hero and half of one of the most well-known pairs in popular culture, murdered.
Ford’s motivation for doing this was mainly because he thought that Han Solo’s story arc had come to a natural conclusion and that the character’s sacrifice would have a deeper emotional impact on the narrative. Ford’s suggestion to have Han Solo murdered was motivated also in part by his desire to leave the role and explore other acting chances.
Even Harrison Ford addressed the topic in an interview, explaining why he believed Han Solo ought to have died immediately, following the first film. He said,
“I thought Han Solo should die. I thought he ought to sacrifice himself for the other two characters [Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa]. I said,’ He’s got no mama, he’s got no papa, he’s got no future. He has no story responsibilities at this point so let’s allow him to commit self-sacrifice.’”
Ford believed that in Return of the Jedi, Han should kill himself in order to save Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. The actor believed that because of the audience’s concern for the characters’ safety, this would assist heighten the stakes for the third movie. Ford undoubtedly believed he had exhausted his creative options with Han Solo, but he still believed that the character needed to die in order to have an emotional catharsis that would transform him from a villain to a selfless hero.
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On What Condition Did Harrison Ford Return As Han Solo?
Although it has not been officially confirmed, it appears that the fact that the filmmakers ultimately fulfilled Ford’s intention to kill Han Solo was a factor in his decision to return to the franchise. Lawrence Kasdan, who also wrote Return of the Jedi and The Empire Strikes Back, was hired to write The Force Awakens. Kasdan was also the writer who concurred with Ford that Han Solo should die. Ford’s original wish was fulfilled in The Force Awakens, as the story killed off Han Solo, which also helped the plot.
Harrison Ford may not have gotten his desire back in 1983, but Han Solo did die 32 years later in The Force Awakens. If Solo was killed during Return of the Jedi, we would have been robbed of the poignancy his presence provided in The Force Awakens.
There was never a suitable time to kill Han Solo, according to fans. They wanted him to ride out into the distance with Leia as the person they fell in love with. And even if that might not have been an especially compelling tale, the fact that he had done so in the past contributed to the original trilogy’s allure. In fact, it’s most likely the cause of his continued memory. Fans can ignore his death because they still have his life – and the original trilogy, to cling to.
Source: YouTube
