Image via Disney+ Add Us On Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Han Solo -The Hunt For Han Solo #5
Star Wars has revealed just how close the beginning of The Force Awakens was to being completely different. A decade after the film’s release, a new addition to the official Star Wars canon has reshaped how fans understand the sequel trilogy’s opening chapter.
As seen in Star Wars: Han Solo — The Hunt for the Falcon, this new and canonical Marvel Comics series sees the titular former smuggler and Chewbacca trying to reclaim their stolen ship during the New Republic Era. It’s an action-packed Star Wars story expanding Han’s struggles with both his past and broken family, though the true surprise comes in the newly released final issue.
Han Solo Was On Jakku Before The Force Awakens (And Fought Unkar Plutt)
This new Star Wars story confirms Han Solo and Chewbacca were actively hunting the Millennium Falcon years before The Force Awakens. ing the trail of owners after the ship’s theft, their search eventually led them straight to Jakku’s infamous junk boss, Unkar Plutt (played by Simon Pegg in the film).
Even more surprising, it’s confirmed that Han and Chewie were physically on Jakku during that time, meaning they were unknowingly in proximity to Rey herself back when she was still a scavenger dreaming of a more adventurous life.
As we see in this final issue, Han Solo actually confronts and fights Plutt himself, with the junk dealer confirming he possesses the Falcon, directly explaining how Han later recognized Plutt by name in The Force Awakens.
This new revelation confirms that Han and Chewie weren’t simply nearby in The Force Awakens by chance after Rey and Finn fled Jakku in The Falcon, as they had every reason to believe their stolen ship was indeed on the desert world and in Plutt’s possession.
Star Wars Confirms Just How Close Han & Chewie Were To Getting Back The Falcon
The series also reveals just how narrowly Han missed reclaiming the Falcon himself before the events of the first sequel movie. During the confrontation, Han was shot by Plutt’s security droids, forcing a retreat before he and Chewie could escalate the conflict and force Unkar to tell them where the ship was.
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As it stands, having to leave the planet delayed the ship’s recovery long enough for the events of The Force Awakens to unfold as they did. That said, the «what if?» is a fascinating domino effect. If Han had succeeded, Rey and Finn may never have escaped Jakku, and the Resistance’s future in The Force Awakens would have unfolded quite differently (and likely not for the better).
Star Wars: Han Solo — The Hunt for the Falcon #5 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
