There is much more to this scoundrel space pilot - and we are about to find out in the new Han Solo film
Solo: A Star Wars Story explores Han Solo’s life in the years before he sidled into that seedy Mos Eisly cantina and meets spaceship pilot seekers Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. An encounter that would change his life forever.
The new Han Solo film timeframe nestles between the end of the prequel trilogy and the beginning of the original trilogy. The Empire exists, but fellow planetary inhabitants haven’t come to realise its full power and intentions just yet.
The Star Wars stories are known to backtrack and flashback to give context on the origins of its principle characters. The new Han Solo film, of course, has an individual focus on Han and adds more layers that connect the storylines of the other episodes.
Long before meeting Leia, Luke, and being frozen in carbonite, Han Solo was a young space pirate who spurned the rules in fulfilling his ambition of being the best pilot in the galaxy.
The trailer doesn’t give tonnes away. But there is adequate hallmark action and teasers in recognisable characters - and a few new ones who are vital to the story.
Han, is that you?
A significant new face is Han Solo himself played by Alden Ehrenreich. For fans who are skeptical about someone else besides Harrison Ford playing this role, the word is Ehrenreich - in this breakout role for him - was the right choice. He didn’t master it alone. Akin to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ford made himself available to mentor young Ehrenreich for the performance.
Let the Wookiee win
A Solo story also means seeing more of his resolute copilot and fan favourite ‘walking carpet’ Chewie. It’s anticipated the film will detail how the pair meet and unfold elements of the saga’s most endearing companions and reliable battle buddies. We can be sure that Han didn’t keep the Wookiee by his side purely because he knows how to beat droids at a board game.
Notorious starship
The Millennium Falcon and the trademark blue tail light is as iconic of a persona as some of the characters and extra-terrestrial beings. In the film, we get to see The Falcon all shiny, fast and new. Solo is seen piloting with ease through space with no suspicious noises or worrying if she can hold together during battle.
An original scoundrel and loyal friend
In the trailer, you may recognise Donald Glover (rapper Childish Gambino, series Atlanta) who dashingly dons a cape and uniform to take on the role of Solo's mentor and schmoozer, Lando Calrissian. We understand from previous films the two had a connection but how it came to be was unknown. Until now.
The cocky pair gambles it out, with the self-assured Calrissian coming unstuck when he has to hand over the Millenium Falcon to Han Solo. There was no love lost though obviously, with Calrissian proving his loyalty to Solo in aiding his rescue from Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. So it will be great to see the beginnings of their friendship in this film.
Shaping the smirking smuggler
Solo has not spoken of Qi’Ra before, but the trailer gives us a glimpse of the character played by Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones). We do know Solo and Qi’Ra are childhood friends and she introduces Solo to Lando Calrissian. In a revealing line by Qi’Ra in the trailer “I might be the only person who knows what you really are”, suggests they have been through thick and thin. Han Solo’s response in the trailer also hints there is some tension between them at this point of the film.
Hustlers are hustling
Even scoundrels and smugglers have masters. Young Han has more than one mentor on his journey to pilot command and intergalactic bootlegging. In Solo, we meet Tobias Beckett, played by Woody Harrelson. The Obi-Wan of swindlers, we suspect. The trailer shows a clip where Beckett appears to be recruiting Solo for some cosmic hustle. Little else has been revealed leaving the details of this alliance and presumable adventures to unfold for us onscreen.
Patience, you must have
Han Solo didn’t get to practice Jedi mind tricks and face off against the Dark Side’s mortal enemies. If anything he was always sceptical of the existence of The Force. We can get the sense there is much more to the galaxy’s loyal gunslinging scoundrel.
We don’t have long to wait until the speculation can end and we can see for ourselves on May 25 when Solo: A Star Wars Story opens. Soak it up fans. It’s the last one for a while.
A significant new face is Han Solo himself played by Alden Ehrenreich. For fans who are skeptical about someone else besides Harrison Ford playing this role, the word is Ehrenreich - in this breakout role for him - was the right choice. He didn’t master it alone. Akin to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ford made himself available to mentor young Ehrenreich for the performance.
Let the Wookiee win
A Solo story also means seeing more of his resolute copilot and fan favourite ‘walking carpet’ Chewie. It’s anticipated the film will detail how the pair meet and unfold elements of the saga’s most endearing companions and reliable battle buddies. We can be sure that Han didn’t keep the Wookiee by his side purely because he knows how to beat droids at a board game.
Notorious starship
The Millennium Falcon and the trademark blue tail light is as iconic of a persona as some of the characters and extra-terrestrial beings. In the film, we get to see The Falcon all shiny, fast and new. Solo is seen piloting with ease through space with no suspicious noises or worrying if she can hold together during battle.
An original scoundrel and loyal friend
In the trailer, you may recognise Donald Glover (rapper Childish Gambino, series Atlanta) who dashingly dons a cape and uniform to take on the role of Solo's mentor and schmoozer, Lando Calrissian. We understand from previous films the two had a connection but how it came to be was unknown. Until now.
The cocky pair gambles it out, with the self-assured Calrissian coming unstuck when he has to hand over the Millenium Falcon to Han Solo. There was no love lost though obviously, with Calrissian proving his loyalty to Solo in aiding his rescue from Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. So it will be great to see the beginnings of their friendship in this film.
Shaping the smirking smuggler
Solo has not spoken of Qi’Ra before, but the trailer gives us a glimpse of the character played by Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones). We do know Solo and Qi’Ra are childhood friends and she introduces Solo to Lando Calrissian. In a revealing line by Qi’Ra in the trailer “I might be the only person who knows what you really are”, suggests they have been through thick and thin. Han Solo’s response in the trailer also hints there is some tension between them at this point of the film.
Hustlers are hustling
Even scoundrels and smugglers have masters. Young Han has more than one mentor on his journey to pilot command and intergalactic bootlegging. In Solo, we meet Tobias Beckett, played by Woody Harrelson. The Obi-Wan of swindlers, we suspect. The trailer shows a clip where Beckett appears to be recruiting Solo for some cosmic hustle. Little else has been revealed leaving the details of this alliance and presumable adventures to unfold for us onscreen.
Patience, you must have
Han Solo didn’t get to practice Jedi mind tricks and face off against the Dark Side’s mortal enemies. If anything he was always sceptical of the existence of The Force. We can get the sense there is much more to the galaxy’s loyal gunslinging scoundrel.
We don’t have long to wait until the speculation can end and we can see for ourselves on May 25 when Solo: A Star Wars Story opens. Soak it up fans. It’s the last one for a while.