Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
It doesn’t get any better than the Millennium Falcon, where we’ll see this fastest hunk of junk in all of its glory in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The ships of Star Wars hold a special place in the heart of a great many fans, and none so much as the Millennium Falcon. She’s one of the few Star Wars icons to appear in all three Star Wars trilogies. The Falcon is home to heroes and a place of discovery and wonder.
What’s more, the Millennium Falcon is so heavily intertwined in the Star Wars saga that the heavily modified YT-1300 freighter is primarily considered a fully developed character in the expansive universe. Her continual development is an ongoing part of the story. The first trailers for Solo: A Star Wars Story proves the standalone tale is no exception to this, giving us our first look at the Millennium Falcon, all shiny and new.
Hello! What Have We Here?
One of the main design elements of the original Star Wars trilogy was that everything should look “lived-in.” Dirt was often rubbed into gear and equipment for effect. Photographers, like Rä di Martino, venturing to the site of the oldest Episode IV sets in Tunisia find the locations still look well-preserved for just that reason. The newest trailer for Solo shows the Falcon in a like-new condition. She seems almost factory fresh with a striking white interior that looks as well manicured as any Imperial deck.
What Have You Done to My Ship?
Perhaps this is a testament to the standards of her owner, Lando Calrissian before a certain scruffy-looking nerf herder gets his hands on the vessel. After all, she isn’t exactly new. Directors have confirmed that it is the Falcon we see docking on Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith. That makes her at least as old as Order 66.
One of the most significant and immediately noticeable changes to the Millennium Falcon comes in this shot. Lando’s at the helm and Han Solo is backseat driving, at best. We’ve seen Lando at the helm before but not as the owner of the Falcon. The tale of how Han comes to own the vessel is one of the cornerstones of Star Wars lore. It’s sure to feature prominently in the upcoming Solo film.
You Truly Belong Here With Us Among the Clouds
Another change to this Falcon from the past is the paint job. The blue-and-white markings seem reminiscent of R2-D2. They may even have that perfect shade of sky blue that Lando seems to favor in almost all of his clothing. With the notable exception, the outfit he borrows from Han’s wardrobe at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, of course.
The round satellite dish is also still in place. During the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi, this part breaks away. It is later replaced with a rectangular model from the same class of vessel as Leia’s Tantive IV sometime before the Falcon’s departure with Rey and former stormtrooper Finn.
The cargo container in the front mandibles of the Millennium Falcon is a departure from every other version we’ve seen. While the YT-1300 design is heavily modular, we’ve never actually seen it carry anything forward of the loading ramp in the movies.
This might be due to Han’s modifications. It’s equally as likely that this extra cargo space is placed so that it can easily be jettisoned if Imperials come searching for contraband — of Imperial designation belonging to a specific Hutt crime lord, for instance.
Fly Casual
Let’s face it, this shot says it all. Han may not start out in command, but his destiny is tied directly to this ship. It’s hard to tell if it is love at first sight, the pull of the Force or simply admiration for the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. The chemistry here seems apparent from the Solo trailer.
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Something about this shot gives the feeling that the two are about to embark on a perilous journey together. Perhaps they’re about to set out on a legendary smuggling run (in under 12 parsecs)?
I’ve Outrun Imperial Starships
In Star Wars: A New Hope, Han brags about outrunning the big Corellian ships in the Falcon. Who knew he meant a Star Destroyer and all of its escorts? The emergence of the giant vessel is a striking sight.
This may be a part of the Kessel Run known in Legend as “the Pit.” In this region, space sensors and visual tracking are completely useless, and pilots must navigate manually. Of course, anyone familiar with the legends of the Kessel Run may also be familiar with “the Maw.”
I’ve Seen a Lot of Strange Stuff
And if this is “the Maw,” it’s aptly named. The Millennium Falcon has been shown in the belly of a beast before, but these tentacles look like they could rip apart a standard YT-1300 freighter. Luckily, our favorite ship is anything but standard and is likely piloted by a double-crossing, no-good swindler following a life-changing game.
Next: We dissect the Solo teaser trailer with our screencap break-down
We won’t know for sure until we see the gold dice in their rightful place. So far, the Falcon and her crew look like they’re in for one stellar ride in Solo: A Star Wars Story.