Legendary actor James Caan was known for his role as Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. The actor received an Academy Award nomination for his role as Don’s eldest son and was often regarded as one of the greatest actors of the generation. Caan also starred in films such as Misery, The Gambler, and Elf.
Caan has also turned down many noted roles that turned out to be game-changers for the actors who ended up playing them. Among films such as The French Connection and Apocalypse Now, Caan was rumored to be offered the role of Han Solo in Star Wars. While Harrison Ford played the iconic character, Caan reportedly had a crude response to it.
James Caan’s Crude Response To Harrison Ford Playing Han Solo
Harrison Ford’s role as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise is so iconic that only the actor could rival the badassery with his other iconic character Indiana Jones. Ford appeared as Solo in the original trilogy, starting with Star Wars: A New Hope. He also made an appearance in JJ Abrams’ sequel trilogy, with Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
While Han Solo has been widely regarded as one of the greatest characters in pop culture, Ford himself was reportedly not that impressed with him. He reportedly tried to have him killed off in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back but was convinced otherwise by George Lucas. His dream finally came true with Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
However, Ford could have avoided the role altogether had Lucas’ original choice accepted it. The Godfather star James Caan was rumored to have been offered Han Solo back when it was in the making. However, Caan reportedly turned down the role and it eventually ended up in Ford’s lap. Caan reportedly had a crude response to the actor playing the role.
He reportedly said on The Howard Stern Show (via Mental Floss),
They didn’t want an actor. That’s why they got Harrison Ford.
James Caan’s rudeness may have cost him millions of dollars and an almost five-decade legacy, even though Harrison Ford was not a huge fan of the role himself.
James Caan Also Rejected Superman Which Went To Christopher Reeve
Actor James Caan has reportedly rejected multiple roles that went on to be legendary after release. According to Mental Floss, the actor rejected the role of Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, which went to Gene Hackman, who won the Oscar for Best Actor. Caan also reportedly rejected the role of Captain Willard in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.
However, one of the biggest roles he reportedly rejected was that of Superman. While the role eventually went to Christopher Reeve in Richard Donner’s Superman, Caan revealed on The Howard Stern Show that he was offered a role in an earlier version of the film which was written by Mario Puzo. James Caan said,
It was written by Mario Puzo and it was all tongue-in-cheek. It was hysterical…like when Superman first learns he can fly, he shows off and does a loop-de-loop.
Caan then reluctantly rejected the role. However, he mentioned that Marlon Brando, who he had co-starred with in The Godfather asked him to join the film as he wanted someone he knew to be on set with him. Brando was cast as Superman’s Kryptonian father Jor-El.
