Watch This: Kurt Russell Auditioning for 'Star Wars'
Filed under: Casting, Trailers and Clips
After reading Peter Hall's post on Kevin Spacey's stunning impersonations, I had to reacquaint myself with the old SNL sketch he mentioned and get as much Spacey as I could. (Check it out if you have no idea what I'm talking about.) From there, well, the handy site called YouTube suggested something else for me -- Kurt Russell's Star Wars audition.
If you didn't already know, he was one of the many actors vying for the role of Han Solo (according to IMDb, a list including Nick Nolte, Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson, and even -- egads -- Steve Martin). What's funny about the clip (after the jump) is how completely earnest and goodie Russell was playing it -- almost like the good-natured Disney fare from his youth. There was none of the true cockiness, ego, or charisma that made the character so memorable. No, no one could have done what Harrison Ford did with the role, but we all know that Russell had the charisma necessary for Mr. Solo. Or rather, that he would soon enough. Somewhere hidden inside that actor was the toughness, alluring machismo, and heroic wonder that thrived soon after in Escape from New York. My best guess: He didn't take this weird little flick seriously, at all.
Man, I'm so glad that "it" came out in Snake rather than Han, aren't you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2009 @ 1:23PM
Joe said...
Who is reading as Luke?
Reply
10-30-2009 @ 1:56PM
robert said...
wow. i'm glad they tightened up that script before filming.
Reply
11-02-2009 @ 2:27PM
Drew said...
Same here... this movie would've been atrocious with this script.
10-30-2009 @ 4:31PM
gwydion said...
Ouch . . . that's painful to watch
Reply
10-30-2009 @ 7:19PM
maceodkat said...
wow.... horrendously bad. i have a great deal more respect for episode IV now.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 11:28AM
moqui said...
It's a cardboard cutout of a character, anyway. Ford did what he could with it, but Snake Plisken and RJ McCready both have 10x the depth of Solo.
Reply
10-31-2009 @ 2:07PM
rle4lunch said...
Who is that, Fred Savage reading for Luke? lmfao!
Maybe it's his dad.
Reply
10-31-2009 @ 10:28PM
G. said...
wow! they look like they are about to make out! LOL Thank god for H. Ford!
Reply
11-05-2009 @ 8:07PM
Alex said...
The guy reading Luke is the guy from Bad Company! Jeff Bridges friend
Reply