Han Solo is undoubtedly one of the most popular anti-heroes of all time, if you can even call
him that.
For decades, fans have been quoting, emulating, and gushing over the charismatic galactic
smuggler, played by the unforgettable Harrison Ford.
In this video, we are going to take a closer look at the irreverent, smart-mouthed pilot,
his backstory, and the actors that almost played him.
So, let’s begin
1.
Han was almost a green-skinned alien Jedi?
Ah Lucas…first monkeys now this…
During the pre-production of A New Hope, Han Solo was imagined as a green-skinned, alien
Jedi who had gills instead of a nose.
The original concept art is reminiscent of the Swamp Thing.
There’s no doubt it would have been difficult to find an actor who’d be content with sitting
in the make-up chair for 5 hours a day, and it is unlikely that Harrison Ford would have
auditioned for this version of the character.
Although George Lucas later decided to make Han human, the green alien Han Solo would
have definitely changed the entire Star Wars lore.
For example, how would fans have reacted to seeing a romantic relationship between the
slimy green Solo and the lovely rose cheeked princess Leia?
2.
Harrison Ford wasn’t the only actor considered for the role
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Harrison Ford playing Han Solo.
But several actors were also in the running for the part and two of them actually screen
tested for the role.
These actors you’ve no doubt heard of were Kurt Russell and Christopher Walken.
Kurt Russell could have worked but Christopher Walken seems like a bit of a stretch.
Other actors they considered included Al Pacino, Nick Nolte, and Sylvester Stallone.
While these actors are great, George Lucas definitely made the right choice in casting
Harrison Ford.
3.
Han has a wife and it ain’t Leia Spoilers.
With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, the old canon is out the window and the new
canon’s being slowly rolled out via novels, comics, movies and videogames.
During their comic, Star Wars issue 6, Han’s backstory was given a huge change: he was
actually married during Episode IV.
At the end of the comic, a woman with a bone to pick with Han shows up – and she’s
claiming to be Han’s wife, Sana Solo.
Han categorically denies Sana’s claim, but both women are furious with him regardless.
Turns out, the marriage was part of hers and Solo's scam in order to pull off a robbery.
However, Solo made off with her cut.
Sounds like he’s still a scruffy looking nerf herder after all…
4.
Han didn’t always have the Millennium Falcon If someone says the word Han Solo the next
thing that pops into most people’s minds is the Millennium Falcon.
You would think that with such a lengthy history between the two, Han must have always been
in possession of the ship that’s so dear to him, but this wasn’t always the case.
The Millennium Falcon has undergone many changes in ownership over the years.
Lando Calrissian had originally won the ship in a game of Sabacc, a galactic card game.
Years later though, he wagered his prized ship during another game of Sabacc with Han
Solo.
Lando lost the ship to Han and handed over ownership of what would become one of the
most famous ships in the Rebel Alliance.
Han then lends the Millennium Falcon to Calrissian during the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
In Episode 7 Duquesne steals the falcon from Han Solo.
The Erwin Boys then steal it from Duquesne, and finally Unkar Plutt steals it from the
Erwin Boys.
Only to have it jacked by Rey, who runs back into Solo.
Phew. 5.
Han completed the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs
You may have been wondering just what the hell that famous sentence even means, given
that parsecs are a measure of distance in the Star Wars universe, rather than time…
The Kessel Run is a route used by smugglers to bypass Imperial Forces.
The run itself is treacherous – it travels through a cluttered asteroid field and is
dangerously close to the Maw black hole cluster.
There was a route commonly used by smugglers which was considered the “safest” and
shortest way to navigate the run, however Han was able to shorten the distance further
by getting really close to the black holes.
His bravery and complete disregard for the safety features of the navigation system are
reasons why this feat is so impressive…
6.
The prequels were going to feature a young Han Solo
Ah Lucas…here we go again.
A 10-year-old Han was originally going to feature in Revenge of the Sith.
He would’ve been portrayed as living on the Wookiee home world Kasyyyk and being raised
by Chewie.
Which I guess would’ve made them true life partners.
Fortunately, the idea was eventually dropped and we never got to see lil’ Han in a lil’
vest.
I guess lil’ Ani and the lil’ Boba will have to suffice…
7.
Harrison Ford improvised his lines Lured into a trap on Bespin by Vader, Han
Solo is about to be put into a carbonite casing to be shipped back to Jabba the Hutt by bounty
hunter Boba Fett.
As he's lowered into the machine, Princess Leia says, "I love you."
Harrison Ford then famously utters that most Han Solo of Han Solo retorts: "I know."
The original scripted scene had Solo replying with "I love you, too."
But other sources claim that the original line was “just remember that, cause I’ll
be back”.
Anyway, Harrison Ford thought that just wasn't Han, so he ad-libbed the now-iconic, character-defining
line.
Predictably, George Lucas wasn't too happy, but director Irvin Kershner backed Ford up,
and the result is one of the greatest Star Wars moments in the movies.
8.
He saved Chewie’s life
Han’s best friend and partner in crime – Chewbacca, the Wookiee, has become just as iconic as
his human counterpart.
The two are a galactic dynamic duo.
In what is now called “Star Wars Legends” – the Star Wars stories that are no longer
canon – Han saves Chewbacca from Imperial slavery and defects from his position as Lieutenant
in order to rescue Chewie and himself.
In the new canon, the backstory is similar – Han still saves Chewbacca from slavery,
but now the details are a bit more vague.
Regardless, once Han saves Chewbacca, Chewie swears a life debt to Han and that is why
he is always at his side.
The galaxy’s biggest bromance is more than a simple friendship!
9.
Han shot first… or did he?
This is a point that has been hotly debated for decades now – who shot first: Han or
Greedo?
Everyone who loves Star Wars has an opinion on this famous scene in the Cantina, but who
is right?
Well, the answer may not be as simple as one might think.
In the original, untampered version of the original Episode IV, the answer is clear – Han
takes the first and only shot at Greedo.
So, you may be thinking, “Ok it’s settled, Han shot first,” but Lucas famously went
back and altered scenes from the original trilogy years later, to the dismay of fans
everywhere, and one of the scenes that Lucas messed with was this altercation at the Cantina.
In Lucas’ version, Han actually tilts his head to the side and dodges the first shot
fired by Greedo only to then fire a fatal shot.
So, while both answers – Han or Greedo – may be correct, truly Han shot first.
If he’s the kind of guy that can get married to pull off a scam, and then steal his wife’s
cut, he’s the kind of guy that could shoot first….
10.
He’s getting his own Spin-off movie A spin-off and sort of prequel unlike the
other Star Wars films, the Han Solo movie will step into a different time zone of the
Star Wars universe.
Tracing the early days of the Star Wars hero, the film will span his journey from a reckless
smuggler to a big-shot in the Rebel Alliance.
Reports suggest that the film may look at Han’s experience with new galaxies and their
queer residents before he encountered the Galactic Empire.
This is an ideal chance for them to explore worlds like Coruscant.
With Alden Ehrenreich spearheading the movie as Han Solo, the team will also include his
co-pilot Chewbacca and young Lando Calrissian.
Ehrenreich does not give an exactly Harrison Ford-like feel, but he may live up to the
demands of the role.
The Han Solo solo movie will release on May 25, 2018.
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