MovieChat Forums > Star Wars (1977) Discussion > Pacino on turning down 'Star Wars'

Pacino on turning down 'Star Wars'

posted 2 years ago by bozo_500 (13371)
29 replies | jump to latest

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/al-pacino-godfather-turning-down-star-wars-the-offer-1235392646/

He also reflected on his later roles in Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Scarface. When asked if there were any roles he regretted passing on, he noted, “I turned down Star Wars” when he was new on the scene and being offered anything and everything to play.

“So I was there and all of a sudden they gave me a script that was called Star Wars. I said, ‘I got the script, they offered me so much money, but I don’t understand it,'” eventually deciding he couldn’t do it for that reason. He joked, “I gave Harrison Ford a career, which he has never thanked me for!”

He will have turned it down because sci-fi wasnt a respectable thing at the time esp not for an established oscar guy like him, and judging by his subsequent movies he obviously wasn't too interested in doing fantasy films anyway (closest he did was Dick Tracy which was in the wake of the huge success of Batman so no doubt figured he'd be like the Jack Nicolson of the movie, and Devils Advocate which was more like a law movie until second half/final act)

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7954) 2 years ago

Meh. I think it's for the better. A lot of people like his movie Scarface which he probably wouldn't have been in if he played Han Solo in Return of the Jedi. As they came out the same year. Personally I didn't like Scarface as I found the main character unlikable.

[–] whynotwriteme (7811) 2 years ago

Al Pacino would have been a ridiculous Han Solo. Maybe if Luke went to 1977 New York instead of Mos Eisley to hire a spaceship Pacino would have worked but that's it.

[–] ccr1633 (1537) 2 years ago

There are certain great actors who seem to more or less play the same personality type in almost every film. Among those that come immediately to mind are Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, James Garner, Michael Douglas, Richard Widmark, Charlton Heston, Denzel Washington, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Clint Eastwood. They became archetypes, industries unto themselves, and as such it's difficult (for me) not to see the actor behind the character. This doesn't spoil my enjoyment of their films, not in the slightest. But for me it makes them unsuitable for certain roles. With Clint Eastwood as Han Solo I would've seen Dirty Harry when I wanted to see just Han Solo. With Pacino I would've seen Michael Corleone or Sonny Wojtowicz. In 1977, Harrison Ford was pretty much unknown. Star Wars catalyzed the archetype he became, although Ford I think proved himself a bit more versatile. In any event, I'm glad somebody like Pacino wasn't in the film.

[–] whynotwriteme (7811) 2 years ago

I see those people, plus a few more like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, etc. as not truly actors, but more as personas, always playing themselves in every film.

[–] ccr1633 (1537) 2 years ago

I agree. Stallone, I think, initially showed more promise in the early days. In Nighthawks I saw his character more than I did Rocky Balboa. But after the flops of FIST, Paradise Alley, and some others, he pretty much reverted exclusively to Rocky/Rambo.

[–] Darren (1451) 2 years ago

Stallone has stuck to what he's best at for most of his career, but he can extend himself and perform through a greater range. Check out Copland. He plays a very different character to his usual heroic type -- the character still is heroic, actually, but far more in the mold of an ordinary citizen who steps up to do the right thing at great risk, as opposed to the Rambo-type quasi-superhero. He did a really good job with the role too.

[–] christomacin (4729) 2 years ago

How do you figure Robert Shaw plays the same character in every film he was in? The personalities of Quint in Jaws and Kabakov in Black Sunday are extremely differnt. Different accents, differnt nationalities, etc.

[–] abigolcwock (517) 2 years ago

I don't get why he wouldn't be a good Han Solo? He'd be different, but he's very good at playing a cocky asshole that's way in over his head. Serpico just straight up looks like a OT character as well.

[–] whynotwriteme (7811) 2 years ago

To me, he seems very modern-day New York Italian. If you ever saw him in Revolution, playing a colonist in 1776 you would see how out-of-place he is in any other setting other than the modern era.

[–] FootOfDavros (8681) 2 years ago

It's important to note that 1977 was pre dialled up to 11 full on Al Pacino Al Pacino.

He could still act back then, maybe it would have worked...

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

‘I got the script, they offered me so much money, but I don’t understand it,'

Didn't know it had ever been offered to Pacino. I remember reading that Connery turned down Lord of the Rings for the same reason.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

THANK FUCKING GOD FOR BOTH MIRACLES!!

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

I dunno, I could see Connery as Gandalf. No way I see Pacino as Han Solo.

[–] ccr1633 (1537) 2 years ago

Connery definitely would've fit perfectly in LOTR as Gandalf. Imagine Al Pacino as Gandalf!

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

A very short Gandalf!

[–] ccr1633 (1537) 2 years ago

"A very short Gandalf!"

I can imagine Bilbo Baggins introducing Gandalf: "say hello to my little friend."

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

😂 👍

[–] Ace_Spade (9654) 2 years ago

"Why does the Ring have such a hold on me, Gandalf?"

"'cause it's got a GREAT ASS! And you've got your head ALL THE WAY UP IT!"

[–] christomacin (4729) 2 years ago

I would have preferred Tom (Dr. Who) Baker as Gandalf to either McKellan or Connery. Whether anybody could have kept his huge ego in check or kept him away from the bottle long enough to complete the filming is anohter question.

[–] MCguy (1344) 2 years ago

I find this story hard to believe. Pacino was a major star at this point. His salary would have exceeded the film's budget.

Has anyone in the know confirmed Pacino's story?

[–] christomacin (4729) 2 years ago

They probably offered it to Robert Redford and Paul Newman as well. It seems they offered EVERYTHING to those two "back in the day", especially Redford. They even offered Superman to Redford.. I mean, serioulsly?

[–] MCguy (1344) 2 years ago

Those offers were probably made to create buzz and not serious. Superman was a big budget movie with a lot of hype.

Star Wars was low budget and not expected to be a hit. I think Pacino is revising history.

[–] ccr1633 (1537) 2 years ago

Paul Newman was even offered the role of Dirty Harry.

[–] xergan (1084) 2 years ago

It often happens, that stars get scripts send to them. It is basically an attempt to attract them to a certain role so the movie can be advertised with them. I seriously doubt that Pacino EVER considered playing the role. Maybe he read it, but as I would expect him, he likely max read the pitch and left it on the junk pile. When Star Wars became a success, he might remember about it and made a joke about it.

[–] nyctc7 (44088) 2 years ago

Han Solo talking to Jabba the Hut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn7h005oC1s

[–] TheEndIsNigh (498) 3 months ago

He would've been laughable in the role if true. Pacino was ideal for certain roles but Han Solo wasn't one of them. Just like Revolution wasn't. There's only one other actor I can picture as Han Solo and that's Kurt Russell but even then he would've been wrong for the role in 1977 because he was too young. An early 80's Russell could've pulled it off.

Harrison Ford was the right choice.

[–] overseas7 (5066) 3 months ago

" Harrison Ford was the right choice ". Amen.

[–] AnthonySocksss (1475) 3 months ago

Kurt Russell should stick to B-movies like big trouble in little China and not ruin Star Wars

[–] overseas7 (5066) 3 months ago

About a month ago, during my holiday in England, I watched on TV an interview with Al Pacino. He said, that he declined the opportunity to be part of Star wars and that he does not regret it at all. Maybe, but at that moment I did not get the impression that he was saying all the truth.