Last week’s
report from Variety about Lucasfilm’s potential shortlist of candiates to play a younger version of Han Solo in upcoming Star Wars installments has led to much discussion, a very concept-critical
essay at The Atlantic and a
list of 5 'better ideas' at Forbes that laments,
“so many other great potential film ideas,” and then hilariously suggests rebooting the prequels as one of them. As I read editorials and comments, I was struck by the nearly unanimous condemnation of Han Solo’s backstory being explored onscreen. Almost everyone (at least those being vocal) seems to think that it is a bad idea. This surprises me, and I disagree on nearly every level.
The reasons for the negative outlook seem to be these: (1) Star Wars should stop restricting itself to a small group of familiar characters, and branch out to other stories; (2) Prequels generally don’t add much, and this one would undermine the character’s appeal; and (3) Harrison Ford is Han Solo. All good points to bring up, and here are my thoughts on them:
(1) Aside from the fact that this planned film will focus on a character whom we already know (and likely include a couple of other, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca), it presents a great opportunity for Star Wars to branch out into different settings and different story types. Every film thus far has focused broadly on the larger galactic conflict—Republic vs Separatists, Empire vs Rebels, First Order vs Resistance—and specifically on Jedi and other Force-wielders. A Han Solo film will likely take us off that beaten path, into the underworld of smugglers, gangsters and gamblers. We will probably meet some interesting new characters and visit new places. There might not even be any Jedi—imagine that.
Of course, the story will likely feature events that have been previously alluded to, such as the Kessel Run or Han winning the
Millennium Falcon from Lando. In that sense, it probably won’t be a journey completely into the unknown. But to me, it still sounds like a great adventure that will break new territory for Star Wars. I see that as being a good thing.
(2) Yes, prequels can be a bad idea, especially when they are bad films, period. We’ve had that and it left many of us deeply disappointed. However, there is little reason to believe that the mistakes of the past will be repeated in the post-George Lucas era. Writer Lawrence Kasdan has
already suggested that this will not be an origin story. We will not be getting another ‘kid tale’ like the ones that came up short (no pun intended) in their attempts to provide satisfying beginnings for Anakin Skywalker and Boba Fett.
More specifically, will it be bad to actually see Han Solo’s past? I don’t think so, and this is perhaps where I differ most strongly from some of the opinions that I have recently encountered. Han has never been a mystery-driven character like Yoda or Boba Fett. Rather, Solo is a man who openly boasts about his past exploits. Even when he himself would like to escape his past, he often finds it hard on his heels, chasing him. More than almost any character in Star Wars, Han Solo’s life is an open book.
Speaking of which, Han prequels have been a part of the saga since the very early days. The first of Brian Daley’s Han Solo Adventures novels were publish in 1979, before even The Empire Strikes Back reached theaters. Since then, there have been many additional installments in the Expanded Universe that have explored Han’s backstory, and in my personal experience, none of those stories have undercut what makes him an appealing character in A New Hope—that is, his roguish charm, sardonic edge and underneath it all, his heart of gold. Those things can shine through even if he isn’t as old as when we’ve seen him onscreen before.
(3) Will it be difficult to find the right actor? Definitely. I will readily admit than not many of the alleged candidates in Variety’s list inspired me. I am of the school of thought that it should be more a matter of choosing the best actor, someone who can believably play the character, not mime Harrison Ford, per se. We can't replace the legendary actor, nor do we need to. In any event, it is possible to find the right person, and wouldn’t it be great to see such a thing happen? Considering the credentials of directing team Phil Lord and Chris Miller, in addition to the fantastic cast assembled for The Force Awakens, I have reasonable faith that a good choice will be made.
I understand that we all have different perspectives on these things. I have often argued against a Yoda origin story, for example. There are some things that I don’t need to know. But perhaps because I grew up reading Han Solo stories, I have no fear of seeing that onscreen; indeed, the possibility excites me. It is certainly true that Lucasfilm has not yet announced any film projects that could be described as 'risky,' or perhaps even particularly intrepid, but consider this: a young Han Solo film stands to take the saga farther away from its large-scale war-and-Jedi tendencies while containing tremendous potential for just the sort of adventurous, fun storytelling that has always characterized Star Wars at its best.
Terrific creative talent is attached. It probably won’t be re-telling the same basic story over again, a la The Force Awakens, and it almost certainly won’t be a counterproductive quagmire like the prequels. All in all, it is a great next step for the saga that we know and love.
In the lead-in to the afforementioned Forbes list, the author deems a young Han Solo film, "quite possibly the worst idea since Jar Jar Binks, or that Ewok movie." Is that really what we have come to? Such cynicism, ironically, might be exactly the sort of thing to expected from Harrison Ford, but as fans, do we have so little faith? Are we so beaten down by the current nostalgia-mining climate that Han Solo himself is no longer a beacon of adventure? I think that he still can be, and I hope that he will be.
(Images taken from The Paradise Snare by A.C. Crispin and Dark Empire by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy.)