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== Merchandising ==
== Merchandising ==
YOU $UCK
Solo has been [[Merchandising|merchandised]] in multiple media, including [[action figure]]s, [[video game]]s, and other collectibles. A Han Solo action figure with "human proportions" was released in 1977 to coincide with the release of the original Star Wars, while a figure created for the films' mid-1990s re-release was criticized as "unrealistically muscled."<ref>{{cite book|last=Lock|first=James|coauthors=Daniel Le Grange|title=Help your teenager beat an eating disorder|publisher=Guilford Press|year=2004|pages=67–68|isbn=978-1-57230-908-1|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=HRKYrvHrFxMC&pg=PA}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Grant|first=Jon E.|coauthors=Marc N. Potenza|title=Textbook of men's mental health|publisher=American Psychiatric Pub|year=2006|isbn=978-1-58562-215-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JPcjcqDGUqgC&pg=PA317|page=317}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:14, 19 November 2012

For the trilobyte, see Han solo (trilobite).

Template:SW Character Han Solo, portrayed by Harrison Ford in film, is a character in the Star Wars universe. In the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Han Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire. Over the course of the Star Wars franchise, Solo becomes a chief figure in the Alliance and succeeding galactic governments. Star Wars creator George Lucas described Solo as "a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good".[1]

Depiction

Film appearances

At the beginning of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Solo and Chewbacca are indebted to Jabba the Hutt. Solo accepts a charter to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) to Alderaan in his ship, the Millennium Falcon, for a payment to clear the debt. However when the crew and passengers arrive at the planet's coordinates, they discover that Alderaan has been destroyed by the Death Star, and the Falcon is then captured and held upon the Death Star. Enticed by the likelihood of a large reward, Solo and Chewbacca help Skywalker rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), held captive aboard the station. After delivering Skywalker, Leia, and the droids to the Rebels, Solo and Chewbacca receive payment for their services and depart; but return to assist Skywalker, ultimately enabling the latter to destroy the Death Star. Following this, Han is appointed a Captain by the Rebel Alliance.

When the Empire attacks the Rebels' base on Hoth in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Solo transports Chewbacca, Leia, and C-3PO to Cloud City for safety. The bounty hunter Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) tracks the Falcon to Cloud City, and Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) forces Cloud City's administrator, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), to help capture Solo, who is sealed in carbonite for delivery to Jabba the Hutt. Although Calrissian frees Vader's other captives, they do not succeed in rescuing Solo. At the beginning of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) Leia infiltrates Jabba's palace and frees Solo; but they are caught by Jabba the Hutt before they can escape. When Jabba orders them to be executed, they are rescued by Skywalker. Reunited with the Rebels, Solo is commissioned as a general. Along with Leia and Chewbacca, he leads a team deactivating the force fields protecting the Empire's second Death Star, in which they are aided by the Ewoks.

Expanded Universe

Brian Daley wrote a series of novels, the first published in 1979, exploring Solo and Chewbecca's smuggling adventures, and Ann C. Crispin's The Han Solo Trilogy (1997–1998) further develops the character's backstory.[2] Crispin's books depict Solo as a beggar and pickpocket throughout much of his youth. He becomes a pilot and, in the process of undermining a religious fraud, falls in love with Bria Tharen, who disappears before Solo joins the Imperial Navy. Solo loses his commission and is cashiered when he refuses an order to skin Chewbacca, who had commandeered a ship carrying Wookiee children destined for slavery; Chewbacca, in turn, swears a "life-debt" to Solo. The two become smugglers, and help repel an Imperial blockade of a Hutt moon. Solo soon thereafter wins the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in a card tournament. Tharen, who has become a Rebel agent, reappears and asks for Solo, Chewbacca, and Calrissian's help in attacking a slave colony. After succeeding, Tharen's troopers steal the smuggler's valuables to aid the Rebel Alliance. To compensate their losses, Solo and Chewbacca accept a smuggling job from Jabba the Hutt; but Imperials force the smugglers to jettison their cargo, invoking the debt Solo and Chewbacca owe the Hutt at the beginning of A New Hope. It is revealed in the book Vector Prime that Han's father was an Imperial Officer, second only to the General of Republic Forces.

Solo plays a central role in several Star Wars stories set after Return of the Jedi. In The Courtship of Princess Leia (1995), he resigns his commission to pursue Leia, whom he eventually marries. Han and Leia have three children: twins Jaina and Jacen and son Anakin. Chewbacca dies saving Anakin's life in Vector Prime (1999), eventually prompting alcoholism and depression in his partner. In Star by Star (2001), Anakin dies as well, compounding Han's despair. At the end of the series, Han is nevertheless reconciled with his family.

In the Legacy of the Force series, Jacen Solo becomes a Sith lord named Darth Caedus; whereupon Han Solo disowns Jacen, but is devastated by each new outrage his son commits. He and Leia adopt Jacen's daughter, Allana, after Jacen's death in the book Invincible.

Influence and critical reaction

Solo is a reckless smuggler with a sarcastic wit;[2] he is "a very practical guy" and considers himself "a materialist";[3] but the adventures in the first Star Wars movie evoke his compassion, a trait "he didn't know he possessed".[3]

The American Film Institute ranked Solo as the 14th greatest film hero.[4] He was also deemed the 4th greatest movie character of all-time by Empire magazine.[5] Entertainment Weekly ranked the character 7th on their list of The All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture.[6] On their list of the 100 Greatest Fictional Characters, Fandomania.com ranked Solo at number 15.[7] IGN listed Han Solo as the second greatest Star Wars character of all time (behind Darth Vader),[8] as well as listing him as one of the top 10 characters who most needed a spin-off, saying he was "Arguably the coolest character in the Star Wars universe".[9]

Prince of Persia producer Ben Mattes explained that their "inspiration was anything Harrison Ford has ever done: Indiana Jones, Han Solo".[10] The Japanese manga and anime anti-hero Space Adventure Cobra has been compared by reviewers to Solo.[11][12] In preparing to play James T. Kirk for the 2009 Star Trek film, Chris Pine drew inspiration from Ford's depictions of Solo and Indiana Jones, highlighting their humor and "accidental hero" traits.[13]

Merchandising

YOU $UCK

See also

References

  1. ^ Bouzereau, Laurent. Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays. p. 8. ISBN 0-345-40981-7.
  2. ^ a b "Solo, Han". Encyclopedia. Lucasfilm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Joseph (1989). The Power of Myth. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-385-24774-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "AFI's 100 Years.... 100 Heroes and Villains" (PDF). American Film Institute. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  5. ^ "Empire's The 100 Greatest Movie Characters". Empire Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Entertainment Weekly's 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  7. ^ "The 100 Greatest Fictional Characters". Fandomania.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "Han Solo is #2". IGN.
  9. ^ News & Features Team (2010-05-22). "Top 10 Tuesday: Characters In Need of a Spin-Off". IGN. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
  10. ^ Steinman, Gary. "Prince of Persia: Anatomy of a Prince". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. 2008–12 (50): 13.
  11. ^ "Space Adventure Cobra". 2008-08-03. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  12. ^ "Space Adventure Cobra". Retrieved 2009-05-01. [dead link‍]
  13. ^ Aftab, Kaleem (2008-03-10). "Exclusive: Trek Star Reveals Captain Kirk Inspiration". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-15.

Template:Episode IV Template:Episode V Template:Episode VI Template:Star Wars Jedi Prince series

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