10 Movie Auditions That Changed Cinema Forever

Harrison Ford in Star Wars is an especially fascinating case given that Ford wasn't actually auditioning at all - he was instead hired by prior collaborator George Lucas to read lines opposite the actors who were auditioning.

But throughout this audition session, Lucas became transfixed by Ford's line readings as Han Solo, and ultimately decided to offer him the part even though he wasn't officially in the mix.

And it's a decision which had a supreme impact on Hollywood, given that Ford became an overnight superstar as Han Solo quickly became one of the most iconic movie characters of all time. Furthermore, it ultimately led to him also portraying another indelible blockbuster protagonist, Indiana Jones.

Ford soon enough became one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, his peerlessly charismatic blend of roguish charm serving as the standard bearer for grizzled action-adventure protagonists ever since.