Kurt Russell became a huge film star for his work with director John Carpenter, from Escape from New York, to The Thing, to Big Trouble In Little China.
However, he could have also appeared in one of the most iconic film roles of all time: Han Solo in Star Wars.
Speaking on the Graham Norton Show, Russell revealed that he auditioned for two roles in George Lucas’ sci-fi saga, but backed out of the process due to the director’s indecision.
“Guys my age were all lining up to be in it. I read for both Hans Solo and Luke Skywalker,” he said. “At the time we were saying, ‘the Millennium Falcon this’ and ‘the Death Star that’ and we had no idea what we were talking about.
“There was a western show I had been chosen for and I had to make a choice so I asked George Lucas if he thought he would use me but he said he didn’t know so I went for the western – I had to work.”
Still, everything worked out just fine for Russell, who now reunites with director Quentin Tarantino to play John Ruth in The Hateful Eight – a role for which he grew a huge moustache.
“It was a moustache wearing a man,” the actor said. “It took me four months to grow. Goldie [Hawn, his partner] didn’t think much of it.”
BBC One, 10.35pm
