Harrison Ford Says He Was Paid $1,000 a Week for 1st 'Star Wars'

— -- Harrison Ford is the epitome of Han Solo, the smuggler with a wise-cracking sense of humor and unmatched loyalty to his friends and family.

But Ford, 73, told "Good Morning America" today that when he first went to read for the role in the original 1977 "Star Wars: A New Hope," he didn't think it was serious at the time.

"A producer friend of mine that produced 'American Graffiti' somehow convinced to get me to read the lines with people that were auditioning for the parts of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker," he said. "I thought I was just helping out."

But Ford was so good as Solo, that he adds, "When the whole thing was over they asked if I wanted to play [him]."

"I said, ‘How much?’ And then they said $1,000 a week. And I said, 'No.' But I did, I did it for $1,000 a week. For the first one," he added.

Obviously that number went way up after the success of the original.

Now Ford is back as Solo in "The Force Awakens" out on December 18. He just saw the movie and said, "It was great. It’s a wonderful movie. It’s got great production values. It’s a real big movie and I was delighted to see it."

What brought the icon back to the franchise after all these years.

"A really good script. The opportunity to work with J.J. who I admire. And it just seemed like a good idea," he said.

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