by Emilia Clarke’s decision to join the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story was a bold and risky career move for the acclaimed actress. Clarke rose to fame playing the iconic Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones, becoming one of the most recognizable faces on television. However, despite her meteoric success on Thrones, Clarke was hesitant to join another major franchise so soon after, worried about being typecast.
After lengthy deliberation and conversations with director Ron Howard, Clarke finally agreed to take on the role of Qi’ra in Solo. This surprise casting generated quite a buzz, leaving fans and critics speculating why Clarke would take such a risk. On the surface, it may have seemed like an obvious choice for Clarke to join the massive Star Wars universe. But behind the scenes, she agonized over the decision, weighing the pros and cons of stepping into such an enormous role again so soon after Thrones.
Here’s an inside look at the key factors that ultimately convinced Clarke to accept the role of Qi’ra and join the Star Wars galaxy:
The Script Hooked Her Immediately
While initially hesitant about the role, Clarke has since revealed that it was the excellent script that quickly won her over. She described the screenplay as “full of action, adventure, and most importantly – heart.” Clarke said she found herself completely absorbed in the story during her first read-through.
Beyond just the entertainment value, she was compelled by the depth of Qi’ra’s character on paper. She saw complexity there – layers and an arc she could really sink her teeth into. This challenged her notion that the character would be one-note or too similar to roles she had played before. The script revealed Qi’ra to be far more nuanced.
Ron Howard’s Vision for the Film
In addition to the script, director Ron Howard’s vision for the film also played a key role in persuading Clarke to accept the daunting challenge. She admits to being “blown away” by Howard’s mastery and passion when he first detailed his plans for the movie.
Howard saw Solo as a grittier, more nuanced kind of Star Wars tale – a real scoundrel’s story focused on character more than spectacle. He wanted to explore the darker, more dangerous corners of the galaxy. This unique take on the beloved franchise – going in a edgier direction than previous installments – appealed to Clarke enormously.
Exploring Qi’ra’s Mysterious Backstory
Clarke was also mesmerized by Qi’ra’s intriguing and mysterious backstory – gaps that she could creatively fill in herself. She saw great narrative potential in the years before we first meet Qi’ra as Han’s lost love.
The film only hints at Qi’ra’s shadowy past working for the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. Clarke was excited by the chance to imagine and explore where Qi’ra comes from, how she learned to survive, and what hardened her – making the character three-dimensional in her mind before playing her on screen.
The Opportunity to Play a Strong Female Antihero
Qi’ra’s complex arc was also a major draw for Clarke. She saw Qi’ra as a strong female antihero – starting as a damsel in distress, enduring terrible hardship, and finally rising to become a survivor and criminal mastermind.
Clarke loved the idea of showing her transform into a powerful woman who could go toe-to-toe with ruthless galactic gangsters. After years playing the iconic Mother of Dragons, she was ready for a grounded character whose strength comes from her cunning and resilience alone – not magical powers.
A New Challenge After Game of Thrones
Taking on a brand new character in Qi’ra was also exactly the type of change and challenge Clarke was craving after Game of Thrones. As iconic as Daenerys was, Clarke understandably didn’t want to be boxed into fantasy/medieval roles forever after Thrones wrapped.
Stepping into the sci-fi realm of Star Wars allowed her to showcase much greater acting range for casting directors and audiences who might have pegged her as just a formidable queen. Qi’ra was Clarke’s ticket to breaking out of that typecasting.
Joining the Star Wars Legacy
Of course, it’s also impossible to overlook what a coveted role this was simply due to Star Wars’ legendary status in pop culture. Like many kids born in the 80s, the original trilogy had an enormous impact on Clarke growing up. Being part of that sprawling universe was a childhood dream come true.
She couldn’t pass up what she knew was a once-in-a-lifetime chance – an opportunity that would never come her way again if she declined. Just imagining herself wielding a blaster, piloting the Millennium Falcon, and becoming part of that iconography made saying yes irresistible.
Reuniting with Woody Harrelson
Lastly, the prospect of sharing scenes with her Solo co-star Woody Harrelson again sweetened the deal immensely. The two had worked incredibly well together on the dark crime drama Triple 9 in 2016. Maintaining that creative chemistry was a big draw for Clarke.
She credits Harrelson with being “instrumental” in guiding her through one of her first major film roles. Reuniting with her mentor here gave Clarke the confidence she could deliver a standout performance, even in unfamiliar franchise territory. Their duo simply works on camera.
The Bottom Line
For Clarke, the opportunity Solo presented clearly outweighed any reservations about joining the juggernaut Star Wars universe on the heels of Game of Thrones. In the end, her passion for the character, script, and cast – plus the chance to expand her acting horizons into sci-fi – won out over any fears of typecasting.
Climbing aboard the Millennium Falcon marked a bold new chapter in Emilia Clarke’s already remarkable career. And her bravery paid off, as she successfully silenced any doubters with her universally praised performance as the captivatingly complex Qi’ra. Like Han himself, in the end she went all in – and that daring leap of faith clearly made the Kessel Run for Clarke and opened up her career to go even further.
