AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: GOING SOLO, THE FORD WAY!

 

Harrison Ford poses for a TESB publicity image, taken circa April/May 1979.

"You'd expect development of the characters in a second act, I was expecting it and I wasn't surprised when I saw a different version of Han Solo in the script (compared to his role in 'Star Wars'). We got to know him better."

Harrison Ford - Starlog magazine interview - August 1980  

Within the Asteroid Cave set at Elstree - Summer 1979.

"Harrison's Harrison. He can put up with things that other actors can't. That for a start. Then being out on the glaciers, where it was extremely cold. Then still being able to have a sense of humour after three or four hours out in the cold. To me he is a true professional. "When I first met him he did things fairly and squarely the way he thought. But if the director thought differently then fine, In 'Star Wars' he played himself. He was fairly confident but then, in 'Empire' his confidence grew." "Kersh had his own ideas but Harrison would steam in there and say "This is the way it is" He also a lot more backing from George in what he wanted from the character."

Peter Mayhew - 1999 book interview

With thanks to Chris Baker for selected information.