Originally published May 8, 2016. Updated June 30, 2023.
Following on from our special May The Fourth Edition of The Week in Star Wars, we’ve got a slightly smaller Sunday edition – but one that brings some huge news for Han Solo: A Star Wars Story…
We’re going to kick things off this week – of course – with the announcement of Alden Ehrenreich as the young Han Solo for his spin-off movie. This comes off the back of some very vigorous casting – featuring such names as Taron Edgerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Miles Teller (Fantastic Four) and Dave Franco (Bad Neighbours 2), and the Hail! Caesar star was seen as the man to fill the shoes of Harrison Ford in the iconic role. Fun fact: Ehrenreich is now the third Coen Brothers alumni to feature in Star Wars following Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver…
…Speaking of Han Solo: A Star Wars Story – which isn’t the offical title – and one half of its directing duo Chris Miller took to Twitter this week to tease the upcoming movie…
…Lastly on the spin-off movies, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was given the LEGO treatment which you can check out here…
…We here at The Week in Star Wars are not ones to admit when they are wrong. Earlier this year Oli Davis and I made this video where we made fun of Star Wars: The Force Awakens rumours that turned out to be false, and one of those rumours surrounded the opening shot of the movie featuring Luke Skywalker’s hand floating in space. Well, it turns out that was actually the opening shot at one point in time. “I can tell you now that in the original opening shot of 7, the first thing that came into frame was a hand with a lightsaber, a severed hand that enters the atmosphere, and then the hand and bone burns away and goes sticking into the surface of Jakku,” Mark Hamill said. “And this alien hand comes in, don’t know if it was Maz but it was an alien hand who takes the lightsaber way, and then the movie proceeds as you see it.” Well, that’s put us in our place…
…Oli and I aren’t always wrong of course, and you can hear the audio version of The Week in Star Wars on the Flickering Myth Podcast, where we also review Captain America: Civil War and discuss the possible implosion of the DC Extended Universe…
…Here’s a little interesting note. Craig Miller, former fan relations officer for Lucasfilm during the 1970s, has said that Boba Fett was originally going to have a much bigger role in Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. “Originally Boba Fett was set up in Empire as a character, and the third movie’s plot was going to be more about Boba Fett, rescuing Han Solo and all of that,” he says. “Boba was gonna be the main villain… That was set up, why he was taking Han Solo away, why there was a thing with him in the Christmas Special. When George decided not to make a third trilogy, he completely jettisoned that story line, which is why in the first ten minutes, Boba Fett gets bumped into and falls into the mouth of a giant monster. So he took what was planned for the third trilogy, which was the confrontation between Luke and Darth Vader, and the battle with the Emperor, and that got squished down from three movies to one movie. And that became the plot of Jedi…”
…Now I know what you’ve all been begging for – Star Wars: The Force Awakens as told by Emoji. Well, beg no more…
…StarWars.com has unveiled a new line of Funko Pop! Star Wars: The Force Awakens vinyl figures which include Luke Skywalker, General Leia, Snap Wexley, Rey, ME-809, General Hux, Guavian, Kylo Ren, FN-2199, Maz Kanata, Maz Kanata (Target exclusive), Poe Dameron (Hot Topic exclusive) and Rey (Walgreens exclusive). Check them out here…
…And here’s your comic book previews for the week -kicking off with Star Wars: Han Solo #1: Everyone’s favorite scoundrel gets his very own series! Han is given a top-secret undercover mission for the Rebellion — rescuing a number of informants and spies. His cover for the assignment? Only the biggest and most infamous starship race in the galaxy! You know — the race Han has dreamt of winning his entire life. Will he keep his mind on the mission? And can he manage to pull it off while keeping the lead? Best-selling author Marjorie Liu (X-MEN) comes to the Galaxy Far, Far Away along with superstar cover artist Mark Brooks (ULTIMATE X-MEN) in his return to interior art! Face it, readers — there aren’t enough scoundrels in your life! And here’s the preview for Star Wars: Darth Vader #20: New Story Arc! “END OF GAMES” begins this issue! Inspector Thanoth returns with some startling information. Vader may have passed his master’s tests… …but will his own schemes prove his undoing?
Order Star Wars: The Force Awakens via Amazon UK or Amazon US
That’s all for this week – may The Force be with you.
Luke Owen
