If you’re like me, then you probably assume that every time an actor gets the call that he or she will get to be in a “Star Wars” film, they jump up and down, scream at the top of their lungs, and non-stop, frantically dial everyone they know to tell them the news. You know, it’s like the film equivalent of winning the lottery. But for Alden Ehrenreich, the scene was much bleaker. And as he describes in a roundtable discussion from the new “Solo: A Star Wars Story” Blu-ray (via CinemaBlend), the news of his casting led him to a long, ponderous walk alone to the world’s saddest amusement park ride.
Here’s the scene, as described by the actor (which would best be accompanied by this song):
“I called my family, I told them, but like, all my friends, I couldn’t tell anybody really and it wasn’t even going to be announced for three months. And so I didn’t know what to do, but I felt I should do something, so, I like went to the beach, by myself, and walked around. And there was the pier there so I went to the pier and I was like ‘I guess I’ll ride a ride.’ So I just rode a roller coaster by myself.”
Poor guy.
And to make matters worse, not only did he have no friends to share this incredible moment with, relegated to being the sad man contemplating his thoughts on a children’s ride as the rest of the people probably looked at him and wondered who died, but he would then go on to star in ‘Solo.’ And let’s be real, Ehrenreich was doomed the moment stepped foot on the rollercoaster.
The young actor got the role of the lifetime, but no matter how great he was (and for my money, he was fine), Ehrenreich would forever live in the shadow of Harrison Ford. Compound that thankless job with the behind-the-scenes drama, which found the actor at the center, and the lukewarm box office totals, and it makes you wonder what sad, and lonely, activity the actor would have done if he actually learned what would happen after he said yes.
All that being said, Ehrenreich is a good talent and will no doubt have bigger, better things in the future. Hopefully, those gigs allow him to celebrate with his friends.