Star Wars Episode IX: Is the Millennium Falcon going down?
The Millennium Falcon is among the most iconic symbols from the Star Wars franchise. Will its fate be similar to that of the characters from the original trilogy?
The Millennium Falcon has been without its pilot since The Force Awakens. Chewbacca and Rey have been taking turns at the rein since Han Solo’s death-by-lightsaber. But there’s a chance that its fate will parallel that of its captain in the next Star Wars installment.
Disney actually has the opportunity to make the Falcon a key narrative device in Episode IX. One of its most challenging hurdles with the upcoming movie is dealing with Leia Organa due to that sad passing of Carrie Fisher. The Millennium Falcon may be the best vehicle to take care of that with.
Making an off-screen death powerful
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Lucasfilm confirmed Leia will not be CGI-ed into Episode IX, which means they have the tall task of writing Leia out of the series. But off-screen deaths are rarely fulfilling; rather than see the moment ourselves, we often hear secondhand accounts of what happened from characters.
But imagine this: Early in the movie, we’re told Leia is in the Falcon. Maybe she’s with Chewbacca or Lando Calrissian, but we know Leia is there. During that flight, we see other characters looking on as the Falcon is shot down by the First Order.
I think this is the most powerful way Star Wars could write out Leia. We see the Falcon go down, which on its own would be a tragic visual for fans. But we also have the knowledge that Leia Organa is going down with it. She’d be sinking with Han Solo’s iconic ship and the moment wouldn’t be cheapened by dialogue that wouldn’t do Carrie Fisher’s portrayal of Leia justice. It’s perfectly in-line with the sequel trilogy’s theme of moving on from the past.
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Letting Leia go with the Millennium Falcon is the best, if not the only, way to write out her character.
Do you think the Falcon should be the vehicle to write out Leia’s character? Comment your thoughts below!