With Star Wars: The Force Awakens inching closer and closer, one actor has started to speak out about the film and his stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerfherder character. Of course I’m talking about the man, the legend, Han Solo. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Harrison Ford Revealed a few tidbits about his character in the new film.
“He was always the cynical member of the original characters. There was a callow youth, a beautiful princess, a wise old warrior, and there was a smart-ass. While we were invited to engage on the questions of some pretty arcane mysteries — the Force and the mythology that surrounds it, he was the guy who said, ‘What? Huh? Come on.”
As we’ve noticed in the trailer, solo says that the Jedi, the dark side, it’s all real finally believing what he denied was real in A New Hope, but according to Ford, Solo has changed that much.
“No, there’s not an abandoning of the character. He does not aspire to the position of Obi-‘Ben’ Kenobi, nor do I aspire to be some New Age Alec Guinness. His development is consistent with the character, and there are emotional elements which have occasioned his growth. We spend a lot more time [in the movie] on his failure to master basic skills, like accounting,” Ford says, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. “And accounting for his own behavior. There’s a lot of the rogue still left in Solo. Some things don’t change.”
So where has solo been in this Thirty plus year gap between Return of the Jedi and the new film? Ford cleverly deters from the question avoiding any spoilers.
“Well, he’s been living with me out back, in the shack, Thirty-two years is going to put some rings on the tree, some experience in the bank. You might make an elaborate conjecture [about who Solo is now], but I think we answer that question in the film. It’s best left answered there.”
Ford went on to give some thoughts on the upcoming Han Solo spinoff film that is scheduled for 2018, and will explore the adventures of a young Solo.
Has Lucasfilm talked to you about their young Han Solo film slated for 2018?
Ford leans back and smiles. “I think they’re probably talking to the young Han Solo.”
What advice would you give to the actor they cast to help him get inside Solo’s head?
“I would say, ‘Talk to your director. Watch the movies. And welcome aboard. Make it your own.’”
How do you feel about someone else picking up the blaster?
“I never thought about it.”
In addition to Star Wars and Han Solo, Ford also gave up some interest of him playing Indiana jones again.
“Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’d love to do another Indiana Jones. A character that has a history and a potential, kind of a rollicking good movie ride for the audience, Steven Spielberg as a director — what’s not to like?”