Harrison Ford Open To The Idea Of Returning As Han Solo In ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

Entertainment Weekly is reporting Harrison Ford is “open to the idea” of and “upbeat about” playing Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode VII. Their source also says Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are also upbeat about the idea. EW adds that we shouldn’t be surprised if Harrison Ford’s contract “includes a mandatory death scene” for Han Solo. The character was supposed to die in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but the scene was rewritten when the character proved to be a fan favorite. Ford said in an interview with ABC in 2010, “I thought he should have died in the last one to give it some bottom… George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”

Ford won’t go to the next level of contract talks until there’s a script and director in place. Either could be a deal breaker. Still, at any stage, an “upbeat” signal from Ford on any Solo matter is enough to shock and excite fans. [...] In the 29 years since the red carpet premiere of Return of the Jedi, Ford has declined hundreds – if not thousands — of offers to appear at Star Wars events and cast reunions even the ones sanctioned and run by Lucasfilm. In fact, in all those years was only one offer he accepted: He attended a 30th anniversary screening of the The Empire Strikes Back in 2010 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. [EW]

If you asked us ten years ago if Harrison Ford would be willing to reprise his role as Han Solo, we’d have been doubtful. But now that he’s a 70-year-old who’s done Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Cowboys and Aliens, we’re thinking he’ll take leading roles where he can get them. May as well take advantage. YOLO.

[Sources: /film, Kleinmania, and Pleated-Jeans]