Every time I think of the fact that at one time George was seriously considering Burt Reynolds for the part of Han Solo (not that he wouldn’t have done a fine job), I think of him as the Bandit with Sally Field as Princess Leia, Darth Vader as Smokey and Luke Skywalker in the Jerry Reed role in Smokey and the Bandit. 🙂
James Caan had done a bunch of stuff before ’77, ‘Rollerball’, ‘The Godfather’ movies. He may have been too well known for the part.
Perry King had done mostly episodic TV much like Harrison. I’m thinking of him as more of a character actor, I mean, he’s still doing stuff and I recognise him when I see him. But, maybe if he had been in ‘American Grafitti’, George would have picked him. Whoosh, bang, leading man.
Nick Nolte, hmmm, he did mostly TV series guest spots until ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’ (which he got Emmy & Golden Globe nominations for). He had/has that “been there, done that, got my ass kicked, still standin” personna. He and Harrison are the same height and were about the same age (35/36). Could have been interesting.
We know Al can act, and he’d just done ‘The Godfather’, ‘Serpico’ and ‘Dog Day Afternoon’. Maybe he’s too good an actor, too much screen presence. Maybe not physically imposing enough. Of course, if you hang out with a wookie.
Burt did ‘Dan August’ for TV, and mostly dramatic parts in movies after. And of course, ‘Smokey & the Bandit’ came out in ’77 too. Which movie classic to choose, hard. Anyway, thanks to Sam, I can’t get the image of him being chase by Sheriff Jabba T. Justice (“I’m gonna get you, you sum’ bitch”), out of my head.
Kurt was doing mostly episodic TV too, and had just played Dexter Riley for the 3rd time in ’75. He would also have only been 25-26 back then. Although 4 year later he did do ‘Escape From New York’ followed by “The Thing’.
Stallone had just released ‘Rocky’ (1976) and would have been a drawcard, but may have distracted the audience
Christopher Walken? That was around the time of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Deer Hunter’ which he won an oscar for. Like Al, he may have had too much screen presence. Also he may have wanted to dance in the movie.
Billy Dee, that could have been interesting, he’d shown he could act by getting an emmy nomination for ‘Brian’s Song’ in ’72. Most of the human cast do have decidedly pale complexions. Han is a mercenary, only out for the credits, he shoots Greedo first, but he does come through in the end, and he and Leia fall in love. Would that have been a problem in the ’70?
I’m putting to much thought into this aren’t I? Eeny Meeny Mynee Mo, I choose! Nick Nolte!
In fact, Tom Selleck would have played Indy had he not been under contract for “Magnum P.I.” (which was a show I loved).
I think Selleck would have made a very good Indy and his characterization would have been in the same vein as Ford’s portrayal.
Had he been younger, James Garner would have made a cool Indiana Jones as well. Or, how about Garner as Indy’s dad? I always loved the chemistry he and Noah Berry had as Rockford and dad.
That aside, Kurt Russel gets my vote.
Next runner up: Billy Dee Williams. It would have been fun to see an Indy who could not only be a butt-kicker, but one suave motherfucker as well. (Did you even see “Lady Sings The Blues”? That’s all I’m sayin’.)
Some trivia to keep in mind when voting here (not that it’ll make any difference): Perry King DID play Han Solo… in the NPR radio adaptions of SW & TESB in the early ’80s and reprised the role for ROTJ adaption in the mid-’90s. And a damn fine job he did, too!! My vote: 2-4-6-8, Who Do We Appreciate? PERRY!
Recalling Kurt Russell from “Stargate” (the original film, of course), it’s not so hard to imagine him playing the role with the requisite swagger. BDW isn’t a bad choice either.
i think that Bruce Boxleiter would have been a good luke skywalker or han solo, and he was one of the ones who did a reading but the tape no longer survives because george lucas taped over the ones he discarded as choices.
I like perry king’s performance of han solo in the radio play so who better to be the real han solo after ford.
Every time I think of the fact that at one time George was seriously considering Burt Reynolds for the part of Han Solo (not that he wouldn’t have done a fine job), I think of him as the Bandit with Sally Field as Princess Leia, Darth Vader as Smokey and Luke Skywalker in the Jerry Reed role in Smokey and the Bandit. 🙂
Billy Dee is the obvious answer the only one who fit, but considering Hollywood’s race mindset at the time, doubt it would have happened.
Tough one Sam!
James Caan had done a bunch of stuff before ’77, ‘Rollerball’, ‘The Godfather’ movies. He may have been too well known for the part.
Perry King had done mostly episodic TV much like Harrison. I’m thinking of him as more of a character actor, I mean, he’s still doing stuff and I recognise him when I see him. But, maybe if he had been in ‘American Grafitti’, George would have picked him. Whoosh, bang, leading man.
Nick Nolte, hmmm, he did mostly TV series guest spots until ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’ (which he got Emmy & Golden Globe nominations for). He had/has that “been there, done that, got my ass kicked, still standin” personna. He and Harrison are the same height and were about the same age (35/36). Could have been interesting.
We know Al can act, and he’d just done ‘The Godfather’, ‘Serpico’ and ‘Dog Day Afternoon’. Maybe he’s too good an actor, too much screen presence. Maybe not physically imposing enough. Of course, if you hang out with a wookie.
Burt did ‘Dan August’ for TV, and mostly dramatic parts in movies after. And of course, ‘Smokey & the Bandit’ came out in ’77 too. Which movie classic to choose, hard. Anyway, thanks to Sam, I can’t get the image of him being chase by Sheriff Jabba T. Justice (“I’m gonna get you, you sum’ bitch”), out of my head.
Kurt was doing mostly episodic TV too, and had just played Dexter Riley for the 3rd time in ’75. He would also have only been 25-26 back then. Although 4 year later he did do ‘Escape From New York’ followed by “The Thing’.
Stallone had just released ‘Rocky’ (1976) and would have been a drawcard, but may have distracted the audience
Christopher Walken? That was around the time of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Deer Hunter’ which he won an oscar for. Like Al, he may have had too much screen presence. Also he may have wanted to dance in the movie.
Billy Dee, that could have been interesting, he’d shown he could act by getting an emmy nomination for ‘Brian’s Song’ in ’72. Most of the human cast do have decidedly pale complexions. Han is a mercenary, only out for the credits, he shoots Greedo first, but he does come through in the end, and he and Leia fall in love. Would that have been a problem in the ’70?
I’m putting to much thought into this aren’t I? Eeny Meeny Mynee Mo, I choose! Nick Nolte!
In fact, Tom Selleck would have played Indy had he not been under contract for “Magnum P.I.” (which was a show I loved).
I think Selleck would have made a very good Indy and his characterization would have been in the same vein as Ford’s portrayal.
Had he been younger, James Garner would have made a cool Indiana Jones as well. Or, how about Garner as Indy’s dad? I always loved the chemistry he and Noah Berry had as Rockford and dad.
That aside, Kurt Russel gets my vote.
Next runner up: Billy Dee Williams. It would have been fun to see an Indy who could not only be a butt-kicker, but one suave motherfucker as well. (Did you even see “Lady Sings The Blues”? That’s all I’m sayin’.)
Some trivia to keep in mind when voting here (not that it’ll make any difference): Perry King DID play Han Solo… in the NPR radio adaptions of SW & TESB in the early ’80s and reprised the role for ROTJ adaption in the mid-’90s. And a damn fine job he did, too!! My vote: 2-4-6-8, Who Do We Appreciate? PERRY!
I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role, but for cash-strapped relectant-hero type hard to go wrong with Kurt.
Recalling Kurt Russell from “Stargate” (the original film, of course), it’s not so hard to imagine him playing the role with the requisite swagger. BDW isn’t a bad choice either.
i think that Bruce Boxleiter would have been a good luke skywalker or han solo, and he was one of the ones who did a reading but the tape no longer survives because george lucas taped over the ones he discarded as choices.
I like perry king’s performance of han solo in the radio play so who better to be the real han solo after ford.