How George Lucas' Jaw-Dropping Han Solo Vision Revolutionized the Star Wars Universe
Han Solo's original concept as an alien would have revolutionized Star Wars, altering the iconic relationship and subsequently impacting both the sequels and prequels
George Lucas had a different vision for Han Solo, which would have had a significant impact on both the beloved character portrayed by Harrison Ford and the entire Star Wars saga. While Star Wars (1977) introduced audiences to Jedi, stormtroopers, and the menacing Darth Vader, the human element of the film also enchanted a global audience. Harrison Ford's portrayal of Han Solo, a character that seemed straight out of a Western transported to a sci-fi world, played a crucial role in this appeal.
The undeniable charm of Han Solo, combined with the chemistry between Ford, Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia, contributed to Star Wars becoming more than just your typical sci-fi movie. Ford would go on to reprise his role as Han Solo in subsequent films such as The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. However, if Lucas had stuck to his original plan for Han Solo from The Star Wars draft, it is likely that Harrison Ford would not have portrayed the character at all.
Han Solo Was Created As An Alien
George Lucas had significantly different early drafts for Star Wars (1977) compared to the final movie. One major difference was the character of Han Solo, who was originally described as a "huge green-skinned monster with no nose and huge gills" in the first draft titled "The Star Wars." This early version of Han Solo was drastically different from the beloved character played by Harrison Ford in the premiere of the film. In fact, if this original draft had been followed, the iconic Han Solo that audiences are familiar with would not have existed. Additionally, this version of Han Solo would have been associated with General Luke Skywalker, who was more like the character Obi-Wan Kenobi rather than the Luke Skywalker portrayed in the movie. The original draft depicted Han Solo as a member of the Urealian species and a part of the Jedi-Bendu team of Imperial bodyguards. Jonathan W. Rinzler and Mike Mayhew portrayed a version of this original Han Solo in The Star Wars, based on Lucas' draft.
Alien Han Changes Iconic Star Wars Relationship
If George Lucas had included the alien version of Han Solo in the final Star Wars script, it is difficult to envision the character resembling the one portrayed by Harrison Ford. Ford's portrayal of Han Solo's flaws was integral to defining the character, something that would have been impossible with an alien design. The original concept for Han Solo would have relegated him to more of a sidekick or even a gimmick, rather than a genuine companion to Luke and Princess Leia.
Ironically, the original Han Solo may have ended up resembling Chewbacca more closely. The dynamic between Han Solo and Leia, which mirrored a "Lady and the Tramp" type relationship in Star Wars, likely would never have materialized. Additionally, the storyline of Han Solo's transformation from a money-centric individual to a hero who assists in destroying the Death Star would not have worked in this alternate scenario. Even if the first Star Wars movie remained largely the same as the one released in 1977, the subsequent films in the franchise would have undergone significant changes.
How Alien Han Would Change The Sequels (And The Prequels!)
It is worth noting that the presence of Harrison Ford as Han Solo played a crucial role in shaping the success of Star Wars. The original Star Wars movie stood out among its action film counterparts of the time due to its uniqueness and gripping storyline. However, the subsequent triumph of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi heavily relied on the audience's emotional attachment to the characters, particularly Han Solo. We can only speculate on whether the same level of connection would have been established if Han Solo had been portrayed as a towering green creature.
The consequences of Han Solo being an alien in Star Wars would have reverberated through the Expanded Universe, the prequels, and the Star Wars sequels. This version of Han Solo, having prior knowledge of the Jedi, might have had a significant role in the Star Wars prequel films. Furthermore, the absence of Han and Leia's romance would have drastically altered renowned Expanded Universe narratives like Heir to the Empire. In a similar vein, the core storyline of the Star Wars sequels heavily relied on the character of Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. In essence, the current Star Wars universe owes its existence to George Lucas' decision to abandon the concept of an alien Han Solo.
