SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Director Weighs In On Alden Ehrenreich Not Doing A Harrison Ford Impression

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Director Weighs In On Alden Ehrenreich Not Doing A Harrison Ford Impression

A lot of Star Wars fans are worrying about just how much of Harrison Ford we'll see in Alden Ehrenreich's Solo performance but director Ron Howard explains why Lucasfilm never wanted that from the actor.

News
By JoshWilding - Apr 17, 2018 01:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: Empire Magazine
As soon as Disney and Lucasfilm made the decision to make Star Wars movies revolving around younger versions of familiar characters, fans started wondering how the studios would handle the casting side of things. Would lookalikes be found? Would CGI be used to alter their appearance? Well, while Alden Ehrenreich looks the part he's clearly not playing Harrison Ford playing Han Solo!

There have been some reports about the quality of the actor's performance since then but we've also heard a lot of positive things and now Solo: A Star Wars Story director Ron Howard has revealed that it was never the plan for Ehrenreich to essentially imitate Ford's work in the original Star Wars trilogy. 

"It was always clear from the beginning, before I was involved, that it was not going to be an impression of Harrison," he said when asked about whether or not the actor was ever planning to essentially imitate Ford. "No one wanted that. Part of Han Solo’s character is sort of a vibe and a feel and a body language." It's hard to argue with that and it's surely the best choice for the iconic hero.

After all, no one could ever really imitate Ford and so it's better for Ehrenreich to put his own spin on things while still respecting what's come before. What do you guys think? Share your thoughts below.
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NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 4/17/2018, 1:45 AM
I agree with what he said.
Imfunnyhow
Imfunnyhow - 4/17/2018, 5:34 AM
"After all, no one could ever really imitate Ford"


Really?!?
pclark
pclark - 4/17/2018, 10:19 AM
@Imfunnyhow - IMO, while decent, it just rings as a pale imitation. No spark that made Harrisons performance so genuine and real.
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 4/17/2018, 1:55 AM
Han Solo was nothing before Harrison Ford brought him to life.

...And to nothing he returns, I guess.
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 4/17/2018, 2:00 AM
On the plus side, I've resolved to treat the Disney Star Wars franchise as just a collection of high-budget fan-films. On the one hand that's better, because then I can accept dumb decisions and poor management as simply the shortcomings of fellow fans.

On the other hand... I've never cared for fan-films. Even the "good ones" that people pass around. So, I'll probably downgrade my interest in the franchise to checking out the lightsaber fights when they eventually get released on YouTube...
DEVWoulf
DEVWoulf - 4/17/2018, 2:09 AM
@Spock0Clock - All SW media that wasn't made by Lucas himself are pretty much fan-made tributes. Some good; some great; some bad. It's becoming so saturated that I really don't care; at this point. The Original Trilogy exists, and it was damn near perfect. It started off so strong, and ended on a high note. As long I have them then I don't really care about anything else.
BoynGirl
BoynGirl - 4/17/2018, 2:29 AM
@DevarikaWoulf - There are some of us who wanted to see more stories told in the universe Lucas created. Do you really want that door closed? There are so many more characters and stories yet to be explored. It's excitin' dude! Come over to our side - you'll enjoy it!
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 4/17/2018, 2:59 AM
@DevarikaWoulf - That's basically where I am, too. Even Lucas didn't really get what was great about Star Wars half the time. And as much as I like the original movies, it was really the stand-out expanded universe stuff that really gripped me (and that was more-or-less official fan-fiction, too). I'm sure I'll still get new Disney-produced stuff that grabs me like Knights of the Old Republic and the X-Wing Series, but I've just got to get it into my head only to care about the the things that end up being good.

It's really Abrams' fault. Though flawed, I saw a lot of promise in Force Awakens that I was really hoping would carry through all the movies. Ultimately, these Star Wars movies just don't have that feeling of "this is an amazing project" the way that the MCU does or even a lot of the Star Wars books did. And I guess I just miss that.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/17/2018, 8:20 AM
@Spock0Clock - Well Solo was never a complex character. He was just based on 50-70s cowboy action heroes who shot 1st than asked ?'s later. Ford just had to be cool, tall, and handsome like Clint Eastwood.

I give'em benefit of the doubt. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto were able to create their own Kirk and Spock, so I say give'em a chance to retire Harrison Ford permanently.
ChangAlang
ChangAlang - 4/17/2018, 2:43 AM
I never expected Alden’s take to be of Harrison playing Han. Otherwise he may as well be cast as a young Indiana too.
ChangAlang
ChangAlang - 4/17/2018, 2:46 AM
Plus Chewbacca will get the spotlight so it’s a win win if you have no interest in Ehrenreich🤷🏽‍♂️
Snotzo
Snotzo - 4/17/2018, 4:28 AM
His performance in the trailers seems he’s opted to impersonate a piece of wood. Here’s hoping for the best.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 4/17/2018, 7:19 AM
Man they sure are letting actors be lazy these days.
I guess they told him “Don’t act like an established character that people have loved for over 40 years, just be yourself on camera.”
They really don’t want these new movies feeling anything like the old ones.
BloodyBed
BloodyBed - 4/17/2018, 9:08 AM
"It was always clear from the beginning, before I was involved, that it was not going to be Han Solo"
TheMfayz
TheMfayz - 4/17/2018, 9:29 AM
I really really agree with this and love this idea, but I'm worried the average movie goer won't go in knowing that. This is a real important detail and could make the film viewed as two completely different ways. Hope they push this!!
CaptCoulson
CaptCoulson - 4/17/2018, 10:06 AM
No it would've been a terrible idea to base an entire lead performance after basically an impression, but at the same time... based on the footage we've seen so far, Alden just feels like they hardly could've made a wronger choice than him for it. I'm getting nothing from him.
pclark
pclark - 4/17/2018, 10:16 AM
This is a classic Kobyashi Maru situation... forgive the franchise crossing axiom...

If he doesn't do a Harrison Ford Impression, then "it's not my Han".

If he DOES do a Harrison Ford Impression that falls flat then "It's not my Han".

If he does do a Harrison Ford Ipression that is spot on then "He's just aping Harrison Fords Han".

The only way to win is not to play, and do it as your own thing, and just hope people are ok with it.
dabo
dabo - 4/17/2018, 12:24 PM
My one real fear for this film that hasn't quite been appeased by the trailers yet, is that the film is about him becoming the Han Solo we know from the later films. By which I mean; I don't want a prequel that has him be naive and clueless and the traits we think of as being Solo ones are things he learns from the Woody Harrelson character or whatever. I just want him to be Han, younger sure, maybe a little more positive, and of course with things to learn, but still the shoot first, sarcastic, concerned with himself and material gain guy. This film looks like Lando is going to be the coolest guy in the universe, but what should make them bond is the friendly rivalry and fact that Solo is also cool and just doesn't give a damn. Everything Lando does, says, and has should impress most people but Solo is just too cool to care. If the original trilogy is about Solo finding his inner hero and compassion and learning the benefit of close friends, this should be about confirming his ideas that he his better off with just Chewie and not trusting or relying on anyone else.
Really got mixed feelings about this because so much of it looks so cool and I really want to like it. I think I'll be best off though if I go in with low expectations, and hope it surprises me.
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