Harrison Ford doesn't join cast of Return of the Jedi

I read that Lucasfilm was almost unable to get Harrison Ford for Return of the Jedi. How would the trilogy have ended (and potential sequels developed) if Han had not returned? It's quite possible that they froze Han in carbonate and sent him to Jabba just to have a possible excuse for Han not being in Episode VI.

First thing that comes to mind is there is no plot in Jabba's palace (or Han is found dead when Leia checks on him in hibernation). Does Leia go for Lando?
 
Lando would assume much of Han's role, but there is no natural romance angle for Lando and Leia. Lando did show interest in Leia, but there was no reciprocation. While it's possible a romance could develop, it would eat valuable screen time plus there is the not inconsiderable issue that in 1983 an interracial romance could create some problems. Instead, they might simply have Leia deal with the loss and learn to move on.

If Lando isn't in the Millenium Falcon to blow up the Death Star, then someone else needs to fly it. There is no obvious choice unless they decide Chewbacca should do it. I can't see them putting a brand new character to fly the ship, and we need a main character for the POV.
 
Luke bangs his not-sister.

Well if Han is out of the way, Lucas may stick to his original idea and not make Leia Luke's sister, though she's still the "another" Yoda spoke of, maybe a descendant of a Jedi too, like Luke.

If Lando now takes over Han's role, would that be a career boost for the actor? Could he be a bigger star than he is OTL (what other movies is he in, aside from Star Wars movies I only see him as Harvey Dent in Tim Burton's first Batman movie, he was supposed to return for the sequel but then his character was replaced by the one played by Christopher Walken).
 
According to Wikipedia Harrison Ford was not under contract to do two sequels to Star Wars. He suggested Han Solo die at the beginning of the film making a self sacrifice. George Lucas shot this down. There was also the idea in the original script of ROTJ to have Han killed attacking an imperial base.

If Ford makes his decision known before ESB comes out then maybe you have Han killed at the end Empire. In ROTJ they skip the jabba scene or you have Leia step up as a hardcore warrior who leads the assault on the Endor bunker. Maybe she shows signs of being force sensitive showing that she really is Luke's sister.
 
Luke bangs his not-sister.

Well if Han is out of the way, Lucas may stick to his original idea and not make Leia Luke's sister, though she's still the "another" Yoda spoke of, maybe a descendant of a Jedi too, like Luke.

Doubtful. In Ep.VI, Obi-wan specifically explains to Luke that there is another Skywalker. Lucas' original premise for Ep. VI was that Luke would defeat Vader and learn that he has a twin sister...somewhere. If ATL Lucas sticks to his original premise and Leia is not the other spoken of by Yoda and Obi-wan, then she can not be a Force user.
 
If Lando isn't in the Millenium Falcon to blow up the Death Star, then someone else needs to fly it. There is no obvious choice unless they decide Chewbacca should do it. I can't see them putting a brand new character to fly the ship, and we need a main character for the POV.

How about Chewbacca as the main pilot and Wedge Antilles as co-pilot?

That might also help Denis Lawson's career too. It might get him more roles in Hollywood films instead of becoming a TV star in the UK. With a lot of luck he might be better known internationally that his nephew.
 
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