Top Gun's Glen Powell Reveals He "Blew" His Han Solo Audition (2024)

Glen Powell recently revealed that he tried out for the part of Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, but that he "blew" the audition. Powell has starred in several high-profile movies recently, such as Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You, but his career hasn't only been successes. Powell almost starred in the origin story of Han Solo, one of the most beloved and strongest non-Force users in Star Wars. He ultimately missed out on the role, though, and his chance to star in a Star Wars movie, and he recently explained why.

While speaking with Ben Allen of GQ, Powell said he was in the running to play the titular character in Solo, but that he messed up in the final audition.

“I can joke about it now,” he says, “[but] I blew that final audition.”

Losing the role of Han came during a string of other auditions Powell was passed over for, including roles in Captain America, Cowboys & Aliens, and The Longest Ride. While the role of Han would eventually go to Alden Ehrenreich, Powell was still able to land some major parts later on, and missing out on Star Wars didn't derail his career. Still, though, it's interesting to consider how he would have handled the role, and what might have happened if he had become the legendary smuggler.

Would Glen Powell's Han Solo Have Been A Hit?

There's no way to tell for certain how Powell would have performed as Han, but it's safe to assume he could have done a good job. Powell is well known for his charisma and charm, which would have made him a perfect fit for Han Solo, the roguish yet lovable scoundrel. He also has experience playing morally complex characters, such as the arrogant yet ultimately good-hearted Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick. That role would have lent itself perfectly to playing a younger Han who hadn't yet earned the redemption he achieved in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Han Solo

Hailing from Corellia, Han Solo deserted the Empire to become a smuggler, and he spent years working for the Hutts as a spice runner. Han's life changed forever when he agreed to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to Alderaan from Tatooine, and he soon became an important member of the Rebel Alliance. Han's romance with Leia Organa became the stuff of legend, and they married shortly after the Battle of Endor. Sadly, their relationship ended in tragedy when their son Ben fell to the dark side - eventually killing Han. Still, memories of Han helped bring Ben back to the light.

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Harrison Ford , Alden Ehrenreich

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Died

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Alliance

Rebel Alliance

Movies

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi , Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker , Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo didn't perform well at the box office, and while Ehrenreich expertly portrayed Han, some viewers took exception with his performance. Ehrenreich definitely took a different direction with the character, which was justified since he played a much different version of Han than Harrison Ford did, but Powell may have been closer to Ford's portrayal. It's hard to say how much of an effect Powell would have had on Solo's performance, as there were several problems with Solo's directors, but some viewers may have been more satisfied with him than Ehrenreich.

While Powell's missed chance at playing Han Solo would have been an interesting take on the character, Ehrenreich's performance is still quite good. Solo is probably one of the most underrated Star Wars movies, and it's partially due to his performance. Ehrenreich clearly understood the mindset of Han long before he joined the Rebel Alliance, and he offered some great insights into how the iconic character came to be. Glen Powell may have done just as admirable of a job in Solo: A Star Wars Story, had his final audition gone better than it did.

Source: GQ

Solo: A Star Wars Story

pg-13

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Director

Ron Howard

Release Date

May 10, 2018

Cast

Alden Ehrenreich , Emilia Clarke , Donald Glover , Woody Harrelson , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Thandiwe Newton

Runtime

135minutes

Budget

$275–300 million