Han Solo's Famous 'I Know' Line Was All Harrison Ford's Idea

Out of all the movies Harrison Ford has starred in over the years, his role as Han Solo in the "Star Wars" franchise is arguably one of the biggest of his career. The skilled actor has lent his talents in several of the property's films, and along the way, he made impactful changes that resonated well with audiences, including his infamous line before going cold in carbonite in "The Empire Strikes Back."

While the character's prequel "Solo: A Star Wars Story" failed to live up to expectations at the box office (via Box Office Mojo), there is no denying that fans love the smuggler persona best when he is participating in the episodic "Star Wars" features. After saving Luke Skywalker in the Death Star trench and rescuing Princess Leia from the Empire's clutches on Hoth, it was pretty clear the scoundrel, blinded by greed, had slowly become one of the heroes to root for. Although Han Solo has done some terrible things overall, it's pretty clear that his heroic endeavors in the two trilogies he partakes in have secured him the title of being one of the most popular "Star Wars" characters ever created. His efforts as Solo have undeniably had a big impact on the franchise, some of which can be attributed to the actor's ability to adapt and overcome.

The Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee has been a part of many top-rated projects throughout his run, showcasing his skills (via Rotten Tomatoes), and being an actor sometimes means making some needed changes. This is what Ford did with one line that made all the difference for a certain carbonite-ridden climactic "Star Wars" scene.

Toward the final moments of "The Empire Strikes Back," Han Solo is encased in carbonite by Darth Vader so Boba Fett can bring him to Jabba the Hutt to collect the bounty on his head. Before that, he has a heart-wrenching moment with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), where she tells him that she loves him, and he responds with the iconic line "I know." Even when things seemed their most grim, the smooth operating ways of Solo stood tall in the face of certain death.

But many may not realize that the line wasn't originally in the script, and when talking to fans, Harrison Ford revealed that he was the one that suggested that this is what his character would say, clarifying how the change took place in the process. "It's not really an ad lib, it was a suggestion, and movie making's a real collaborative process at its best. You don't ad-lib it, you suggest it, and then you try something in rehearsal and then you agree," the actor said, responding to a question during an AMA on Reddit. "So it was my suggestion, because I thought it was more of a character line than what was written, but the director and Carrie and I all thought it was a good idea at the time so we did it."

The change proved to be one of the most significant parts of a momentous occasion in "Star Wars" history that stunned audiences, and many people agree, out of all the cool things he has ever said, the bold dialogue alteration is a strong candidate for Han Solo's best line ever.