8 Moments That Almost Killed Star Wars
6. Harrison Ford Didn't Want To Reprise The Role Of Han Solo For Return Of The Jedi
By now, you've probably heard the story about Harrison Ford's dislike of Han Solo. The actor never really clicked with the character — certainly not in the same way fans have embraced him. When Ford signed on to play him, he didn't sign up for two sequels (like Hamill & Fisher).
His obligation was over and done with when Empire Strikes Back was finished, which presented a problem for the franchise. Han Solo was a core member of what made the franchise so appealing to a plethora of fans, but his refusal to sign on meant Han had to go into the Carbonite.
Had he not returned, it wouldn't have been a huge problem, seeing as the character was already on ice. Still, it was one of those moments that nearly made the whole franchise come crashing down. Think back to Return of the Jedi for a moment, and imagine it without Han Solo.
It's almost inconceivable, but for a while, that's precisely how Richard Marquand, George Lucas, and Lawrence Kasdan had to proceed. It's anyone's guess what would have happened with a Harrison Ford-less ROTJ, but it's doubtful it would've been nearly half as iconic as what the final film ended up being.