We're currently in the midst of a Star Wars renaissance. In addition to the main installments that Disney is releasing every other year, we now have standalone and spinoff films coming into play. The first of these, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, will be released next month, and bridge the gap between the prequel trilogy and A New Hope. And although we still haven't seen all Rogue One has to offer, we can already look forward to the next spinoff: the untitled young Han Solo movie. Details about the Han movie (which I'd like to call Solo Solo) are still scarce, but now we have an inkling about the overall feel of the flick.
Lucasfilm president and Star Wars brand manager Kathleen Kennedy recently spoke about the current slate of Star Wars films, as well as the Han Solo movie. Regarding Han's first solo adventure, she revealed the following (via Variety):
This moves closer to a heist or Western type feel. We've talked about [Frederic] Remington and those primary colors that are used in his paintings defining the look and feel of the film.
Do you hear that sound? It's every Star Wars fan collectively sheering at the thought of seeing the scruffy looking nerf herder in his prime. Han (and presumably Chewie) are ready to pull some heists and make some money, regardless of whether or not he deserves it.
Han Solo is one of the most popular Star Wars characters of all time, second only to Darth Vader. But as much as we love the rebel, we never got to see much of his life before he got involved with Luke and Leia. The Han Solo movie will do just this. We'll see a younger Han who is arrogant and inexperienced, but still scrappy as hell. Never one to make a legitimate life, Han will presumably be ripping people off left and right, and possibly making enemies with mobsters like Jabba the Hutt.
The Han Solo movie is going to have a ton of expectations attached to it. We're dying to know the specific events that made Han the scoundrel we know so well, so hopefully this will happen through his spinoff. In particular, Chewie and Han's origin story should come to the forefront. The duo were always shown to be the best of friends, but now we'll actually get to see how Han got a Wookie on his side, and why Chewbacca stood by him after all those years.
Then there's more specific references that will likely be shown. I'm personally hoping to see Han and Chewie take on the Kessel Run in live action. As Han likes to remind us, The Millennium Falcon is the shop that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. I've never really known that the heck that meant, but I know it's cool. I'm hoping this feat is fleshed out during the events of the Han Solo movie, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will fly into theaters December 16th.
