Han Solo is one of the most iconic characters of Star WarsBut there are several things about this colorful character that may not be public knowledge. His first appearance was when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker hired him to fly them to Alderaan to rescue Princess Leia. After a series of misadventures, Han finally revealed himself as a true hero. Han continues to save the day until the end of the series.
He lived a very full life on the screen Star WarsFrom his humble beginnings on Corellia to his tumultuous relationship with his son, Han’s life is a gripping element of the series. However, some parts of Han Solo’s character can only be found behind the scenes.
10 Han was partially based on Francis Ford Coppola
George Lucas had friends who inspired him
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Han Solo’s penchant for recklessness and insight may seem like something out of an old Western, but George Lucas found that inspiration much closer to home. His social circle included many of the most famous names in cinema, and Francis Ford Coppola worked closely with Lucas during the creation of Star Wars.
Related Star Wars: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Han Solo
Han Solo is arguably one of the best Star Wars characters, but there are still a surprising amount of things about him that don’t make sense.
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A friend of Lucas has admitted that he had something to do with the character of Han Solo. According to him, he had a recklessness that George Lucas liked very much. This led Lucas to present Han as an arrogant outlaw.
9 They almost killed him
The original trilogy almost had a tragic ending
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Star Wars This isn’t the first time he’s killed off major characters, as he began the adventure with the untimely death of wise, elderly Jedi Master Luke. Han was one of the unfortunate characters to be eliminated during the writing process. Return of the JediHis death was meant to be a reminder to audiences of the risks the characters faced, but thankfully, Lucas opted for a happy ending for his trio of heroes.
Of course, this finally came true when Han reappeared in Star Wars: The Force AwakensThe tough-minded hero was brutally shot down by his own son, devastating audiences. Han’s death inspired his son’s redemption, so in the end, his death propelled the story forward.
8 …And Harrison Ford was rooting for Han’s death
Luckily, he had to wait for that.
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Something that could ease the pain of Han’s eventual disappearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens The fact is, Harrison Ford himself was always on board with Han’s death. He believed that Han’s journey from criminal to hero would be best commemorated by giving Han the chance to sacrifice himself to save Luke and Leia.
There are persistent rumors that he was getting tired of his Star Wars Fame had earned him a living, and he wanted to explore his new options as a movie star. However, Ford also believed that without a family or a connection to the Force, Han had a much smaller role in the series and was more expendable than the Skywalker twins. Thank goodness George Lucas disagreed!
7. An unknown Harrison Ford beat out well-known actors to land the role
It’s hard to imagine anyone else on the Millennium Falcon!
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Star Wars He gave many actors, including his three leads, roles that made them stand out. That was hardly the case for Han Solo. Christopher Walken and Al Pacino were among the names on the list of actors considered for the role of Han. Al Pacino turned down the role, claiming that he did not understand the story.
Harrison Ford wasn’t invited to audition, but instead was asked to read lines with actors auditioning for other roles when he applied for a carpentry job. Immediately, George Lucas felt he had found his Han Solo and put Ford on the shortlist. The rest is history!
6 Han and Leia married shortly after the Battle of Endor
The sweetest ceremony you’ve ever seen
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Han and Leia’s romance solidified in Return of the Jedibut their relationship seems to have undergone many changes when the two meet in Star Wars: The Force AwakensBy then, Han and Leia already had a child together, but they hadn’t seen each other for many years. This left the audience having to piece together many details.
Related Star Wars: Han and Leia’s Relationship Timeline Explained
Han and Leia shared one of the most endearing love stories in Star Wars, though their on-again, off-again relationship has a long and complicated timeline.
Han and Leia’s wedding was eventually explored, though it never appeared on screen. The Princess and the Scoundrel Per Beth Revis, it is revealed that their wedding was officiated by none other than Luke Skywalker. It took place in the year 4 ABY on Endor, in Bright Tree Village. What a perfect wedding for Han and Leia!
5. He ran a racing league
Is smuggling not a stable career?
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Following the events of the original trilogy, Han had many adventures. For a time, he found success and fulfillment as a race car driver. He also spent time managing a team that competed in the prestigious Five Sabers race.
As a talented pilot, this seems like the perfect career for Han… if he would commit to living an honest lifestyle. That’s exactly what he needed after marrying Princess Leia. The smuggler has always enjoyed competition and flying, so why not combine their passions?
4 early drafts of The Empire Strikes Back included Han’s stepfather
A complicated father-son relationship was enough
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One of the ideas George Lucas toyed with when he was deciding what would happen during the original trilogy was to bring in a stepfather for Han. Lucas planned to incorporate him through his connections to the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire. Han would have to track the man down in order to gain information crucial to the Rebel cause.
Ultimately, this subplot paled in comparison to the legendary “I am your father,” he reveals. With so much family drama brewing in the galaxy, it was probably for the best! Plus, Han’s lack of family background gave him a place in the 2018 series. Solo: A Star Wars Story exist.
3. Originally he was an alien
The Hans were alike only in name
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Like many other movie characters, Han Solo didn’t start out as the same character that appeared on screen in 1977. Lucas’ original idea was for Han Solo to be a slimy, green alien who bonds with Luke after meeting him in a cantina. In this early draft, Han was also a Jedi-Bendu, a rank of Imperial bodyguard who could use the Force.
After a few issues, Han changed completely. He became human to avoid being reduced to a sidekick-type character, and his relationship with the Force was completely reversed. Coupled with his new role as a badass smuggler, he was more ““Space cowboy” and less ““swamp thing.”
2 Han’s golden dice have been in Star Wars since the beginning
More than just a trinket
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The golden dice given to Han by his former love Qi’ra might seem like an unimportant detail added to Han’s origin story in Onlybut eagle-eyed viewers can find them hanging in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon from A new hopeThey only appear in one scene, but they are visible enough to connect Han’s origin movie to the original trilogy.
The importance of dice has increased in the years since its first appearance. It is still unclear how the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story will have an impact on the Star Wars long-term franchise, but the dice came up in Star Wars once before. In Star Wars: The Last JediLuke returns Han’s accessory to Leia after their reunion, setting the stage for the following year’s Han Solo prequel film.
1 Harrison Ford improvised Han’s most famous quote
Know?
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There are many, many unforgettable lines of dialogue in Star Warsfrom Darth Vader’s revelation that he is Luke’s father after all to Yoda’s challenge to “do” rather “attempt.” One of the most iconic quotes is Han’s response to Leia’s sudden declaration of love before he is frozen – and perhaps killed – in carbonite.
It’s no secret that Ford wasn’t too thrilled with the dialogue in the… Star Wars movies, and he made sure to remedy it when he could. Apparently, Han was supposed to respond with “I love you too”, but Harrison Ford took the liberty of deciding that Han would say something different in the midst of such a dramatic moment. Responding with: “HE”, Han Solo maintains his “cool guy” demeanor as he answers sincerely.
Han Solo
Hailing from Corellia, Han Solo left the Empire to become a smuggler, spending years working for the Hutts as a spice smuggler. Han’s life was forever changed when he agreed to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to Alderaan from Tatooine, and he soon became an important member of the Rebel Alliance. Han’s romance with Leia Organa became the stuff of legend, and they were married shortly after the Battle of Endor. Sadly, their relationship ended in tragedy when their son Ben fell to the dark side, ultimately killing Han. Still, Han’s memories helped bring Ben back to the light.
Created by George Lucas Cast Harrison Ford , Alden Ehrenreich First appearance Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Died Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens Alliance Rebel Alliance Race Human Films Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker , Solo: A Star Wars Story Video games LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Star Wars franchise
Summary
Beloved space outlaw Han Solo first appeared in the original trilogy of Star Wars films. Piloting the iconic Millennium Falcon with his trusty Wookiee companion Chewbacca, the character quickly earned a place in fans’ hearts, returning for a heroic farewell in the sequel trilogy and even getting his own spin-off film.
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