I actually started to write this last December, but the end of the year and the impending birth of my first child is a bit of a distraction. But here we are.
Disney paid $4 Billion dollars for the Star wars Franchise and that is a lot of investment to risk on one film. Yes, it does mean that they get the profits from the toys and marketing and other revenue, but even in today’s money $4,000,000,000 is still a sizeable sum. But unlike other films which may or may not succeed at the box office, Disney has a plan to earn revenue off a series of movies set in the Star Wars universe long after you and I are dead. If The Force Awakens had flopped then that plan was on shaky ground.
One of the films they are working on is the origin story of Han Solo. Yes, one of films greatest pilots and rogues is getting his own film. But who would play him? Harrison Ford was 35 when he played Han, so realistically we are looking at someone who is or looks like they are in their 20’s, and who could carry such an iconic role.
Looking around the various film websites, I have found sever contenders, some serious, others which seem ludicrous. According to consequence of sound Disney has auditioned 2500 actors for the role.
Some of the contenders are; Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, James Franco, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, Zac Effron and Robert Pattinson. I think you would have to instantly rule out Pine and Pratt because they have their own franchises already, and I just don’t think they would gel.
Franco’s too old and he doesn’t have the right je ne sais quoi for me. The same for Gordan Levitt, who I really like as an actor but I am not sure could fill the role. Gosling is too smug, Pattinson is too sparkly, and I’m be damned if he sets foot on the Falcon.
Zac Effron. Now bear with me here. Your first thought would be “isn’t he that guy from High School musical?” Yeah he is, but he moved on from that a while ago, and hasn’t played a role in a sparkly vampire movie. I think out of the list so far he could, but to be honest he is a little too good looking to be Han Solo (no offense Mr Ford).
I have seen some other actor’s names thrown around so I will cover them off quickly:
- Colton Hyanes (Arrow, Teen Wolf) too pretty
- Ansel Elgort (Fault in our Stars) too sensitive
- Liam Hemsworth (Hunger games) too hungry
- Scott Eastwood (nothing I have seen) too unknown
Now here is my list of people who might be able to fill the role. Dylan O’Brian, Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Anthony Ingruber.
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| Ingruber and Ford |
I really like Aaron Taylor-Johnson; he is a good actor with a range that stretches from Kickass to Anna Katarina to Avengers. He certainly has the acting chops to pull it off, but I am not entirely sold on the concept.
It is highly unlikely that you would have ever heard of Anthony Ingruber. But for me he is the best prospect. Here is his impersonation of Han Solo.
I have no idea who they will choose, and given my success at choosing the next Dr Who maybe I am not that skilled at these sorts of pics. But if I had any choice I would choose Mr Inguber.
