Al Pacino — Turned Down Han Solo

Al Pacino was George Lucas's first choice for Han Solo, but he passed because the script baffled him. Harrison Ford's portrayal spanned five Star Wars films plus four Indiana Jones films, cementing cultural immortality. While Pacino's legendary career includes “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Scarface,” and an Oscar for “Scent of a Woman,” the missed opportunity is a stark benchmark: his decision left a defining role to a rival who, unlike Pacino, embraced it and skyrocketed to stardom.