Auditioning for a role can be stressful for any performer. Whether you are going to star in your own TV show, or just tell people how much that dish soap really works, making sure you stand out from the crowd can do a number on the nerves. But what if the audition is for one of the most charismatic, iconic characters in movie history? Does “stressful” even begin to explain it? Dave Franco knows as he talks about his audition for the scruffy-looking nerf herder himself, Han Solo.
During an interview with MTV’s Josh Horowitz for promotion of the upcoming Now You See Me 2, Dave talks about what it was like to be up for the role made famous by Harrison Ford.
“It’s like MOST other auditions,” Franco joked. “Because of the nature of what it is, it just explodes everywhere. Everyone’s coming and going ‘Dude, what’s going on?’ and I’m like ‘I Don’t KNOW! You know as much as me.’ I don’t want to underplay it. I’m flattered to be or have been in that conversation.”
When asked if he was trying to do some sort of Harrison Ford impression, Franco replied “No, no. I’m not good with impressions. I think that’s why it’s so hard to cast this role, too. Do they want someone to perfectly embody who Harrison Ford is, or do they want to go a completely different route? I think they’re struggling with that.”
That struggle shouldn’t be a surprise at all. ANY decision they make is going to come under some sort of scrutiny, so it makes sense that Disney is doing their best to fill Ford’s shoes with the right feet. Franco joins a list of possible Solos that include Alden Ehrenreich, Emory Cohen, and Taron Egerton.
So what do you think? Is Dave a great choice for the young Han Solo? How do you think his on-screen chemistry with Chewbacca would fair? Let me know on Twitter or make the Kessel run down in the comments below.
We know who’s in Rogue One already, and we broke down the first trailer!
IMAGE: COLUMBIA PICTURES