It is one of the larger debates within the Star Wars Universe (although most fans are on the same page). Who shot first? Han or Greedo? Well, according to a recently discovered early draft, it was definitely Han. The scoundrel!
The script was discovered by Kristian Brown of the University of New Brunswick’s library, who stumbled upon the early draft while digitising their library. No one is quite sure how this script ended up at that particular library. “I’ll tell you one thing, right now,” Brown told CBC News. “Based on the script, I can tell you 100 per cent, Han shot first.”
Well, that puts that to rest.
The scene in question is set in the cantina in the original Star Wars. While Greedo is explaining to Han about Jabba the Hutt’s desires to capture him, Han gets the jump on Greedo and shoots him dead. In the 1997 re-edit, George Lucas added a moment where Greedo shoots first, forcing Han to dodge and then fire back in self defence. This was to show that Han is not just a cold blooded killer and Lucas has gone on record saying that was how he always intended the scene to be.
There are some other differences in the script, including Luke Skywalker being called Luke Starkiller, characters acting differently and the title of referring to the title as Saga I rather than Episode IV.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set for release on December 18th and sees J.J. Abrams directing returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) in addition to Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen.
Originally published June 9, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
