Han Should Have Died in Return of the Jedi, Says Harrison Ford

Ironic Pirate

New member
May 21, 2009
5,544
0
0
Kimarous said:
Yyyyeah, um, Mr. Ford? You do realize that Return of the Jedi was originally going to let Lando Calrissian die in the final battle, but test audiences disliked it so much that they let him live, right? If they were that upset over Lando's potential death, how do you think the fans would feel over your own character's?
This conversation (I assume) took place before there was any kind of test audiences involved, as it didn't sound like George even wanted to film it. Therefore, unless he time-traveled into the future, and then came back, he wouldn't have known that.

And test audiences shouldn't always be listened too. There's a Cracked article somewhere about nine movies that were ruined by last minute plot changes, many suggested by test audiences.
 

Woodsey

New member
Aug 9, 2009
14,553
0
0
TimeLord said:
I don't understand actors who do this.

Here we have successful film/series of films that shaped generations of children and adults alike but at some point after the end of the films we find out that the actor who played the beloved character of the film actually didn't like the character he/she played/wanted his character killed off.

Way for ruining my childhood Ford! Now I can't get an image of Han lying in the grass on Endor with a laser shot between his eyes and surrounded by sobbing Ewoks out of my head!!
Does the fact that he probably pulled the trigger burn just that little bit more?

OT: Indiana Jones > Han Solo (but Star Wars > Indiana Jones films, obviously).
 

TimeLord

For the Emperor!
Legacy
Aug 15, 2008
7,508
3
43
Woodsey said:
Does the fact that he probably pulled the trigger burn just that little bit more?
I am slightly confused as to what you are referring to?

Do you mean the Han shot Greedo thing. Or are you referring to my image of a dead Han on Endor?
 

Wolfenbarg

Terrible Person
Oct 18, 2010
682
0
0
Not sure how I feel about this. Jedi really was the weakest of the films, and something like this could have really brought some gravity to the film and made it a lot stronger, but it could have also made it way too serious and destroyed its beloved status in time.
 

Woodsey

New member
Aug 9, 2009
14,553
0
0
TimeLord said:
Woodsey said:
Does the fact that he probably pulled the trigger burn just that little bit more?
I am slightly confused as to what you are referring to?

Do you mean the Han shot Greedo thing. Or are you referring to my image of a dead Han on Endor?
Nevermind xD

I meant because Ford dislikes Solo, so he'd have taken his own life.
 

TimeLord

For the Emperor!
Legacy
Aug 15, 2008
7,508
3
43
Woodsey said:
TimeLord said:
Woodsey said:
Does the fact that he probably pulled the trigger burn just that little bit more?
I am slightly confused as to what you are referring to?

Do you mean the Han shot Greedo thing. Or are you referring to my image of a dead Han on Endor?
Nevermind xD

I meant because Ford dislikes Solo, so he'd have taken his own life.
Ahh, that indeed pretty humorous. It's too bad I am half asleep and didn't get that.

My bad :p
 

2fish

New member
Sep 10, 2008
1,930
0
0
My first memory of Star wars is me liking Leia and Luke until we met Han, then I liked Han and Leia because Luke was a little whiney shit and Leia and Han got shit done.

To everyone that wanted to be a Jedi as a kid, you messed up, smuggler and sith is where it is at.

Why does my computer know Jedi but not Sith? My computer must be a fan of the new movies?!! Bad computer Bad!
 

duchaked

New member
Dec 25, 2008
4,451
0
0
not exactly news from Ford
honestly, I don't think Han's death would've been appropriate. but that's just me

bring on the Lucas bashing...
what's done is done, like it or take a hike
 
Apr 17, 2009
1,751
0
0
Although I disagree with the merch-driven motives, I have to admit making Han die just to make the film 'gritty' seems like a bad idea to me. The Star Wars trilogy is supposed to be a classic tale of good versus evil, a kind of fairy tale in space. Just killing someone off because its cool seems a little pointless. We already know the Empire is evil, they blew up a peaceful civilised planet in the first film
 
Jun 26, 2009
7,508
0
0
Wasn't Ford the only actor not to have his career destroyed by the original Star Wars trilogy? Except from the main(I think) Ewok who plays/ed the midget-professor dude in the Harry Potter series and the Lepricorn in the Lepricorn movies. I can't remember his name though.
 

Sniper Team 4

New member
Apr 28, 2010
5,433
0
0
Tankichi said:
Kimarous said:
Yyyyeah, um, Mr. Ford? You do realize that Return of the Jedi was originally going to let Lando Calrissian die in the final battle, but test audiences disliked it so much that they let him live, right? If they were that upset over Lando's potential death, how do you think the fans would feel over your own character's?
Lando being the only black guy would mean the genocide of the entire black community lol.

OT: I think Hans death would have been pretty awesome.
Agreed. Since Mace died and the X-wing pilot got blown up, that makes Lando the only black man left in the Star Wars universe.

Killing Han is a no-no. If that had happened, all my favorite books would simply not exist. Granted, I think they made his character much more fun and interesting(and dark) than in the movies. Maybe Mr. Ford should read those...
 

RDubayoo

New member
Sep 11, 2008
170
0
0
Okay, and exactly when would Han have died? Pointlessly getting shot outside the bunker? Pointlessly getting shot INSIDE the bunker, maybe after they planted the bombs? Oh, I know, maybe an Ewok would have gotten carried away and put an arrow in his chest. That would be a great ending.
 

bismarck55

New member
Mar 1, 2010
284
0
0
eljawa said:
while this is old news (watch the behind the scenes on the fourth disk of the Star Wars Trilogy Boxset) I agree, it would have heightened the danger and made return of the jedi a better film, because, and as a star wars nerd this is hard to say, but despite what Randal argues in Clerks, Jedi is the weakest of the original trilogy, by a huge margin. (and weaker than Revenge of the Sith)
Agreed. Episode 3 get's too much undeserved hate, just by virtue of being a prequel. The only thing that stands out as awful to me is the Obi-wan vs. Anakin duel.

Personally I rank them, from best to worst:

- V

- IV

- III

- VI

- I

- II
 

theevilsanta

New member
Jun 18, 2010
424
0
0
eljawa said:
while this is old news (watch the behind the scenes on the fourth disk of the Star Wars Trilogy Boxset) I agree, it would have heightened the danger and made return of the jedi a better film, because, and as a star wars nerd this is hard to say, but despite what Randal argues in Clerks, Jedi is the weakest of the original trilogy, by a huge margin. (and weaker than Revenge of the Sith)
Pretty much this. Hollywood never lets anyone die, even if it makes it a better picture. Box office rules.

I hate your avatar though.
 

bak00777

New member
Oct 3, 2009
938
0
0
Harrison Ford, the greatest actor known to man, and animals, and aliens. I cant believe he found Han boring... This saddens me.
 

eljawa

New member
Nov 20, 2009
307
0
0
bismarck55 said:
eljawa said:
while this is old news (watch the behind the scenes on the fourth disk of the Star Wars Trilogy Boxset) I agree, it would have heightened the danger and made return of the jedi a better film, because, and as a star wars nerd this is hard to say, but despite what Randal argues in Clerks, Jedi is the weakest of the original trilogy, by a huge margin. (and weaker than Revenge of the Sith)
Agreed. Episode 3 get's too much undeserved hate, just by virtue of being a prequel. The only thing that stands out as awful to me is the Obi-wan vs. Anakin duel.

Personally I rank them, from best to worst:

- V

- IV

- III

- VI

- I

- II
I always put a new hope as Best, followed by Empire and then the rest is the same as your list. I can live with the Anakin/Obi Wan duel (CGI wasnt very good thougg in that scene) if it werent for those romatic scenes

"Anakin...You're breaking my heart"
(Anakin says something stupider in his rage)

gosh lucas...really?
 

Captain Pancake

New member
May 20, 2009
3,453
0
0
Come to think of it, there was very little tragedy to that film besides

darth vader dying, but he was a bad guy up till this point so it doesnt really count
I think something like that should have happened to make it feel like the final result came at a cost besides a few fighter pilots and unnamed rebel troops.
 

BlindMessiah94

The 94th Blind Messiah
Nov 12, 2009
2,654
0
0
Logan Westbrook said:
Ford was asked why audiences hadn't seen Han Solo in any other movies, to which he replied that he thought that it would be too difficult to work the character back into the canon, and even if someone did up with a way, he didn't find that character particularly interesting.
Missing a few words there?

OT: Doesn't surprise me, $$$ before artistic integrity = profit?