David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty; Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Al Pacino jokes he turned down the role of Han Solo inStar Warsas a favor to Harrison Ford. In reality, he turned down the role because he didn't understand the part. Pacino reflects on his relationship with the "Movie Brats," includingStar Warsdirector George Lucas andThe Godfatherdirector Francis Ford Coppola. The Force was not withAl Pacinowhen heturned down the role of Han SoloinStar Wars—a choice he opened up about in his memoirSonny Boy. Recently reflecting on that fateful decision further, the Oscar winner now jokes that he was simply doingHarrison Forda favor. "I said, 'I think I'm in the mood to make Harrison Ford a career,'" the legendary actor quips toEntertainment Weeklywhile promoting his latest film,The Ritual(in theaters now), alongside his costar,Dan Stevens. Strolling down memory lane, Pacino recalls his relationship with the so-called "Movie Brats," a group of pioneering directors includingSteven Spielberg,Martin Scorsese,George Lucas,Francis Ford Coppola, andBrian De Palma, who helped pave the way for the New Hollywood movement of the mid-'60s to early '80s. Neilson Barnard/Getty "Zoetrope started in San Francisco with Spielberg and De Palma and Francis Coppola, and Scorsese," Pacino explains. "They were in the late-'60s making this. They were real idealists coming into the '70s with great films all over the globe. So it was a wonderful place that I actually saw, I went to the building and everything before I didGodfatherwith them," he continues, referring to the Sentinel Building in San Francisco, purchased by Coppola as the headquarters for American Zoetrope. "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," he said of reading theStar Warsscript for the first time. "[I thought],I must be out of space myself," he joked. "But I looked at this thing and I sent it to Charlie Loughton, 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.'" Lucasfilm/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Fortunately, everything worked out in the long run for all parties involved. Pacino continued his iconic career, starring in films including Norman Jewison'sAnd Justice for All, William Friedkin'sCruising, and De Palma'sScarface.And, of course, the role of Han Solo in 1977'sStar Wars: Episode IV – A New Hopewent to Ford, transforming him into one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men. Pacino also wasn't the only actor Ford had to beat out to win the part of Han Solo. Sylvester Stallone has spoken about auditioning and being rejected for the role, and you can evenwatch Kurt Russell's audition tape. Burt Reynolds told Business Insider in 2016 that, like Pacino, he was offered and turned down the part. "I didn't want to play that kind of role at the time," he said. "Now I regret it. I wish I would have done it." Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
