Star Wars Is Finally Making Solo Matter

Star Wars tie-ins are finally making Solo: A Star Wars Story matter. Starring Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Emilia Clarke as Lady Qi’ra, and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Solo: A Star Wars Story was intended to be the second in a series of anthology films that expanded the Star Wars galaxy. Development was troubled, marketing was lackluster, and in the end Solo grossed only 393.2 million dollars in the global box office. It forced Lucasfilm to conduct a high-profile course-correction, canceling their anthology program and ultimately pivoting to their current approach, where that kind of story is being told in an episodic format on Disney+.

 There’s a sense in which Solo failed because Lucasfilm forgot to try. Disney and Lucasfilm barely bothered promoting it, holding trailers back until they were far too late to create an interest in the film; when trailers did finally begin to drop, they were lackluster and poorly-developed. In general, the marketing for Solo: A Star Wars Story seemed to suggest even Lucasfilm execs weren’t really interested in this particular movie – and their actions since then have created the same impression. There’s been no real attempt to redeem the story, no hint that Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke and Donald Glover could ever be recalled to play their parts again.

But Star Wars tie-ins are finally making Solo: A Star Wars Story matter. The current range of Marvel Comics have featured the return of Lady Qi’ra, Han Solo’s old flame, who apparently became supreme leader of Crimson Dawn. Charles Soule’s Crimson Reign event is telling the story of Qi’ra’s attempt to overthrow Emperor Palpatine himself, influenced by teachings she received from Darth Maul prior to his death. Meanwhile, Daniel Jose Older’s novel Midnight Horizon has taken another angle; it’s set in the High Republic Era, some 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and it reveals the history of Han Solo’s Corellia. It even features an unexpected cameo by Lady Proxima, the Grindalid who raised Han as one of her street urchins.

Sadly, the focus on novels and comics probably means Lucasfilm don’t ever intend to explore Lady Qi’ra or Crimson Dawn in live-action again, whether in films or on Disney+ TV shows. The Book of Boba Fett may be exploring the criminal underworld, but that particular show is set five years after Return of the Jedi, and Crimson Reign is unlikely to end with Crimson Dawn faring well given they are destined to fail in their attempt to bring down Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Theories Crimson Dawn is coming to The Book of Boba Fett are, therefore, unlikely to be anything more than wishful thinking.

Still, for all this is the case, it is good to see Lucasfilm begin to put effort into absorbing Solo: A Star Wars Story into the franchise’s overarching canon and lore. These tie-ins shouldn’t be treated dismissively; Star Wars: The High Republic is Lucasfilm’s boldest and most high-profile transmedia initiative to date, after all, and Han Solo’s Corellia – and even Lady Proxima – have been integrated into that story. Finally, Star Wars is figuring out how to make Solo: A Star Wars Story feel like an important part of the franchise.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4899 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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