MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Discussion > if Ford hadn't returned

if Ford hadn't returned

posted 5 years ago by ADBruno1985 (3307)
14 replies | jump to latest

I often wonder how differently this movie would've gone. Don't get me wrong, definitely not in a "wish it would've" way, because I love the movie as is, Ford, Han, all of it. Just always kind of wonder. Because without that, they definitely wouldn't have done the first half or so of it the same way, the whole Jabba plotline probably wouldn't have occurred at all, because no point if no payoff of Han. Probably a bit more time on Dagobah and another location where they'd have been running from Vader

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

It wouldn't have had the whole sequence at the beginning about rescuing Han from Tatooine, which really had nothing to do with the rest of the movie.

[–] FootOfDavros (6791) 4 years ago

It had a lot to do with Han being in the rest of the movie...

[–] LordBAElish (2015) 5 years ago

Was he rumored not to be back for part VI? Is that why he mailed it in for this movie?

[–] PaladinNJ (20317) 5 years ago

He was committed for both sequels after Star Wars.

[–] mcqueen (1150) 5 years ago

Return of the Jedi producer Howard Kazanjian convinced Ford to return:

"I played a very important part in bringing Harrison back for Return of the Jedi. Harrison, unlike Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill signed only a two picture contract. That is why he was frozen in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back. When I suggested to George we should bring him back, I distinctly remember him saying that Harrison would never return. I said what if I convinced him to return. George simply replied that we would then write him in to Jedi."

[–] PaladinNJ (20317) 5 years ago

I've never heard this before. as i understood it, he originally had a one picture deal and signed up for the next two AFTER the original movie. Thanks for the correction.

[–] mcqueen (1150) 5 years ago

No problem!

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Luke and Leia wouldn't have been brother and sister, I bet...

[–] Ace_Spade (9366) 4 years ago

100%.

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 5 years ago

People would hate it like Alien³ is hated for callously killing off Newt and Hicks off screen between movies, same for Han Solo, we were left with promise of a rescue and told that he was still alive, to keep him frozen in Jedi or have Jabba do something wicked would be too cruel.

[–] degree7 (821) 4 years ago

Han was supposed to be rescued in the beginning, then killed off about halfway through during a raid on a rebel base by the Empire. According to the original “Revenge of the Jedi.”

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 4 years ago

I’m sure the majority of fans would have hated that, and would be complaining about it til this day!

But at least I wouldn’t have had to have seen his crappy death in The Force Awakens! 😋

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Hans-Wilhelm (1320) 5 years ago

I was 13 at the time.
What is your angle? Was he not going to do it in 81-82' and had to be talked into it?

Or do you mean what if Han got killed off in Empire?