Taron Egerton reveals why he opted out of the opportunity to play Han Solo in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Following his role as Gary “Eggsy” Unwin alongside Colin Firth in 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and its sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Egerton became one of Hollywood’s most promising up-and-comers. Since Kingsman, he’s consistently starred in successful projects, with his turn as Elton John in 2019’s Rocketman taking his career to the next level.
Harrison Ford made his debut as Star Wars’ swashbuckling smuggler, Han Solo, in 1977’s A New Hope, before going on to reprise his role in its sequels and Disney/Lucasfilm’s sequel trilogy. Alden Ehrenreich then took on the gargantuan task of inheriting the role in Solo: A Star Wars Story - which underperformed at the box office, but has been somewhat embraced by fans in the years since. While it’s hard to imagine anyone besides Ford as Han Solo, Ehrenreich gave a solid performance. That said, audiences now have reason to wonder what Egerton would’ve brought to the role.
In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on Happy Sad Confused, Egerton reveals he was once up to play the titular character in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The actor screen tested in full costume with Chewie before deciding the opportunity wasn’t for him. Read what he has to say below:
I felt like that… I felt that– I mean, I’ll be honest, I got on the Falcon. I was with Chewie. I was in the full costume… and I… you know what, that’s what I felt like. I felt like I got there, I did it, I lived it. And there was one more… there was another round that I decided not to do. And it’s far enough in the past now that I feel like I can say that. I hope no one feels annoyed that I have said it. But it just felt to me like I didn’t feel… like you know when we mentioned earlier that thing when I read the Kingsman script and I was like, ‘This is– I’ve gotta do this. This is my part.’ I just didn’t feel it.
Yeah, and can really own it and really– ’cause you’re following Harrison Ford… No one ever wants to follow Harrison Ford, you know? So yeah, that didn’t happen.
Egerton has also revealed why he turned down the chance to play Fox’s Cyclops in X-Men prequels, admitting the inability to use his eyes while acting was a deal breaker. In retrospect, it would seem his instincts have served him well. While Tye Sheridan did an admirable job as Cyclops in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse and 2019’s Dark Phoenix, those films are considered some of the franchise’s weakest. Solo endured a troubled production, with its original directors being replaced by Ron Howard. The movie's lackluster financial success prompted Disney/Lucasfilm to shift its focus to the small screen and Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, fans have come to appreciate Ehrenreich and Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian. If fans don’t get to see the pair again in a Lando show, both actors will be in the MCU, as Ehrenreich is set to star in Disney+’s Ironheart series.
He may have walked away from Lucasfilm, but Egerton's met with Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige about joining the MCU. The actor is a popular fan-casting choice to replace Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, something he’s said he’d love to give a shot. Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox's proprieties, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and mutants are officially under the umbrella of Marvel Studios. Had Egerton said yes to Cyclops or continued auditioning aboard the Millennium Falcon for Solo: A Star Wars Story, it may not have led him potential joining the MCU or staring Apple TV+'s Black Bird - which is receiving rave reviews.
Source: Josh Horowitz/Twitter
