Summary
Han Solohas been played by two actors in live-actionStar Warsprojects, and one of them would have been Charlie Cox had he not failed his audition. Best known for playing Matt Murdock in the hit 2015 seriesDaredeviland subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe projects,Cox believes he was one of many actors considered to play Han inSolo: A Star Wars Story.He was brought in for a"super secretive"audition and was"pretty sure it was for the Han Solo reboot."
Unfortunately, while playing Daredevil may have been great for Cox’s career, it ended up preventing him from playing Han Solo. Cox was asked halfway through the audition why he wasn’t looking at the casting director, realizing he had formed a bad habit during his time onDaredevil. Because Matt Murdock is a blind character,Cox was used to not making eye contact with other actors. Cox believes that this was the primary reason he wasn’t called back, and the role of Han Solo went to Alden Ehrenreich.
Daredevil Born Again: Everything You Need To Know
After being teased in MCU films and television shows, Matt Murdock returned to the screen for a Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Charlie Cox Would’ve Been The Perfect Han Solo
An actor with impressive range and charisma
Despite his audition saying otherwise, Charlie Cox would have been a great Han Solo if he had been cast. Matt Murdock was generally a serious, straight-faced character in Daredevil, butCox has an impressive range that would have translated perfectly to Han Solo. Cox not only looks and sounds the part but can be charismatic on command, an essential quality for anyone playing the captain of theMillennium Falcon.
Cox not only looks and sounds the part but can be charismatic on command, an essential quality for anyone playing the captain of theMillennium Falcon.
Most importantly,Cox proved that he was an incredibly emotional actor, perfectly conveying Matt Murdock’s devastating pain when necessary. BecauseSolo: A Star Wars Storyfocused on a younger Han Solo losing people he cared about and making difficult choices, Cox would have been well-suited for these moments. He could also have returned to play Han in otherStar Warsmovies and TV shows, gradually aging the character to more closely resemble Harrison Ford.
Alden Ehrenreich Was Still The Right Choice
Perfectly embodying a young Han Solo
Charlie Cox may have been a good choice, but Alden Ehrenreich ultimately proved he was the right man to play Han Solo.Ehrenreich perfectly captured the essence of a young Han Solo while making the character his own, rather than simply doing an impersonation of Harrison Ford. Ehrenreich could easily switch between overconfidence, uncertainty, amusement, and pain, encapsulating every aspect of Han’s character.
Ehrenreich is still willing to return to play Han Soloin anotherStar Warsproject, and one of the upcoming movies set during theMandalorianera would be perfect. He would play an older version of the character more closely associated with Harrison Ford, so it would be fascinating how he differentiates his performance fromSolo: A Star Wars Story. While Alden Ehrenreich was the right actor to playHan Solo, it’s still fun to imagine an alternate timeline withCharlie Coxin theStar Warsfranchise.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Cast
Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the early adventures of Han Solo, showcasing his beginnings and key encounters with significant characters in the Star Wars universe. Set in a backdrop of galactic turmoil, the film delves into the origins of his famed relationships and his rise as a rebellious smuggler.
