The Star Wars prequel finale, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, initially showcased Han Solo as a ten-year-old, until that idea was scrapped.
Isn’t hard to believe we just celebrated the 13th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith? Time sure flies doesn’t it?! That takes me back to a time I have not heard of in a long time. A long time.
I remember going to the Thursday night/early Friday midnight showing in my Jedi robes, then heading to work as an Air Force medic in my dress blues the very next morning — just hours later. And, man, was it so worth it!
For me, that’s when my fandom for the franchise took full flight, with Revenge of the Sith still ranking as my favorite Star Wars movie to date. It’s such a fun movie, yet one full of emotion. Hayden Christensen hits his full stride as Anakin Skywalker, turned Darth Vader — such pure perfection!
Come to find out; my personal favorite Star Wars movie would have been even more memorable, if George Lucas would have stuck to his original script. According to DenofGeek.com, a youngling Han Solo, around the age of ten was in the original plans for Revenge of the Sith; with the idea later hit the cutting room floor.
Tell me it isn’t so, Mr. Lucas? That would have been amazing! Thanks to the Revenge of the Sith art-book, we can feast our eyes on an orphaned Han Solo.
Photo Credit: LucasfilmAccording to Revenge of the Sith concept artist Iain McCaig :
"“We were told that Han Solo was on Kashyyyk and that he was being raised by Chewbacca. He’s such a persnickety guy later on – he always has to have the best of everything – so I thought it’d be great if when he was a kid, he was an absolute slob.”"
Photo Credit: LucasfilmWow. Han Solo raised by Chewbacca? But that’s not all. Master Yoda would have met a young Han Solo, generating even more connectivity within the Star Wars canon.
Han Solo’s line speaking to Master Yoda would have been:
"“I found part of a transmitter droid near the east bay. I think it’s still sending and receiving signals.”"
With Master Yoda responding:
"“Good, good,” Yoda would have replied. “Track this we can back to the source. Find General Grievous, we might…”"
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The hypothetical interaction and storyline made it only as far as the concept art stage for Revenge of the Sith before tossing away the idea.
It didn’t connect with the plans of George Lucas for Han Solo in future content and didn’t line up with the backstory that he and Lawrence Kasdan laid out for Han Solo.
That means the current story arc for Solo: A Star Wars Story would have played-out entirely different, with Han Solo and Chewbacca meeting in the film instead of on Kashyyyk.
What a unique and fun story arc that would have been! That also means that Han Solo would have appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars likely during Chewbacca’s story arc in the show.
There’s no benefit of dwelling on the past, which leads to the Dark Side, but what a great story that would have been!
Instead, George Lucas and his story group left us with another Han Solo-like Easter egg in Revenge of the Sith.
We receive a cameo from the Millennium Falcon, instead. It’s not quite the same as a scruffy looking Han Solo running around with Chewie and flapping the breeze with Yoda, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Next: Rian Johnson wanted The Last Jedi to destroy Star Wars fandom
We’ll gladly take this gift from the Maker and are grateful for all he’s done for us fans over the decades.
Speaking of Han Solo, his origins film Solo: A Star Wars Story is just days away, hitting theatres on May, 25,2018.