- Al Pacino said he turned down "so much money" to appear in "Star Wars."
- "The Godfather" star was offered the role of Han Solo in 1977's "A New Hope."
Al Pacino is well regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, starring in a number of beloved movies like "The Godfather," "Scarface," "Heat," "Serpico," "Carlito's Way," and many more. But he nearly added a beloved franchise to his filmography back in the 1970s: "Star Wars."
Yes, Pacino almost joined Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, and Peter Mayhew in a galaxy far, far away as the rogue smuggler, Han Solo.
The 82-year-old actor was discussing his lengthy career during a talk at The 92nd Street Y in New York on Wednesday when he recalled his brush with "Star Wars" (via Variety). He explained that he was offered so many projects at the time because he was the "new kid on the block."
Pacino said: "Well, I turned down 'Star Wars.' When I first came up, I was the new kid on the block... you know what happens when you first become famous. It's like, 'Give it to Al.' They'd give me Queen Elizabeth to play."
He went on to say that he passed on "Star Wars" because he didn't understand it, although he didn't say what specifically confused him about the script. He then joked that because he didn't play Han Solo, it led to stardom for Harrison Ford.
The star said: "They gave me a script called 'Star Wars.' They offered me so much money. I don't understand it. I read it. So I said I couldn't do it. I gave Harrison Ford a career."
Ford previously had a few minor roles in film and TV, like "American Graffiti," "The Conversation," and "Kung Fu," but "Star Wars" was the thing that turned him into an iconic star.
Pacino also recalled a number of anecdotes from his career, including the time he burned his hand on a gun filming the iconic finale of "Scarface."
He explained: "One day, we're shooting, fighting, 'Say hello to my little friend,' I shoot thirty rounds, I get hit, the gun goes down, and I'm supposed to be wounded. I go to pick up the gun, and I put my hand on the barrel. My hand stuck to it, and I had to go to the hospital. I was out for two weeks."