Harrison Ford‘s role in the Expendables franchise may just seem like a cool chance to team up with the rest of the action hero elite, but a story dating back almost half a decade actually strengthens a pre-existing attachment to Sylvester Stallone. While The Expendables 3 – the installment in which the Star Wars actor appeared – doesn’t quite make the list of Harrison Ford’s greatest action movies, it’s still a thrilling adventure with a star-studded cast. Despite the presence of many other big stars in the production, Ford’s collaboration with Stallone stands out for one awesome reason.

As one of the few actors who have appeared in all four Expendables movies, Stallone is a core franchise member. While the actor is stepping aside for the upcoming installment, he’s still been as influential on the film series as he has been outside of it. While not all the Expendables movies have been successful at the box office, there are two more on the way – so there is still demand to see the genre’s legends in action. Although Ford appears to be done with the franchise as well, his temporary presence solidifies Stallone’s brief Star Wars connection.

Sylvester Stallone Auditioned For Han Solo In Star Wars

The iconic Star Wars smuggler could have been very different

While Harrison Ford has been known for playing many huge characters throughout his career, he’s perhaps still most associated with his Star Wars persona, Han Solo. Interestingly, Sylvester Stallone also auditioned for the same part in the 1977 franchise starter, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (then simply known as Star Wars). Stallone spoke of his audition in an interview with the host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. By the actor’s own admission, it didn’t go well.

“I was reading for Han Solo, but I got maybe – well, I got nowhere, actually. I was there to read for it, and they go, ‘
Yeah, you’re really…Yeah, you’re um….
‘ I said, ‘
Let me just make it easy for you. I would look like crap in spandex, leotards, and a ray gun. I get it. Guys from space don’t have this kind of face
.'”

Harrison Ford was perfect for the role of Han Solo, so it’s tricky to imagine anyone else in the role. It doesn’t sound as though Stallone ever really had much of a chance of snagging the part, but the very fact he auditioned means the possibility technically existed. With Ford being cast in 2014’s The Expendables 3 decades later, it feels almost as though things have come full circle. In short, both men have a direct line to one of the other’s massive franchises – even if Ford’s Expendables connection is a little stronger than Stallone’s to Star Wars.

Ford’s Max Drummer Was (Obviously) A Pilot In Expendables 3

Drummer shared a skill set with Han Solo

Although Harrison Ford’s Max Drummer is a CIA operative by the time of the events in The Expendables 3, the character’s Air Force background all but confirms that Drummer was once a full-time pilot. While it’s possible this could be an innocuous writing choice, it’s tough to ignore the fact it strengthens the parallel between Max Drummer and Han Solo. Sure, The Expendables franchise is vastly different from Star Wars, but Han Solo playing a pilot in both stories feels like an intentional nod.

Solo is hailed as one of the best
Star Wars
pilots, so
The Expendables 3
‘s writers may have been implying a similar skill level for Drummer by casting Harrison Ford.

Solo is hailed as one of the best Star Wars pilots, so The Expendables 3‘s writers may have been implying a similar skill level for Drummer by casting Harrison Ford. However, both Ford characters’ flying talents could arguably stem from the actor himself, who holds a pilot’s license and has done so since 1996. According to Sky Aviation Holdings, Ford’s love affair with flying began in the 1960s. Since becoming qualified, Ford has become, “Known for his humanitarian efforts, using his skills as a pilot to help with disaster relief. ” So, Ford is a hero in the real world too.

Why Harrison Ford Didn’t Return As Max Drummer For Expendables 4

Drummer’s story didn’t need continuing

Ford isn’t the only Expendables actor who left the franchise, as others have exited for a variety of reasons. In fact, Ford’s role was developed to replace Bruce Willis’ Mr. Church character after the actor turned down the chance to return. After The Expendables 3, it appears as though Church’s arc, which sort of transitioned into Drummer’s arc, has run its course. As such, Ford wasn’t required to come back for the fourth movie in the franchise.

Drummer wasn’t the only character not to return for The Expandables 4. Stars who had been part of the series from the beginning, like Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Terry Crews, all stopped reporting for duty in the third sequel. While Stallone did appear in The Expendables 4, his exit ahead of the upcoming sequel suggests his time is up with the franchise as well. So, just as Harrison Ford beat Sylvester Stallone to the role of Han Solo all those years ago, the former also beat the latter in the race to leave the Expendables cast.

Source: Sky Aviation Holdings