When it comes to Star Wars, most fans of the popular space saga have all the details firmly implanted in their minds. The Star Wars prequels told us that Anakin was a small boy from Tatooine. He was discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and after Jinn’s death, was placed under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin fell in love with Queen/Senator Padme Amidala, fought in the Clone Wars, and turned to the dark side when Darth Sidious convinced him that it was the only way he could save the pregnant Amidala’s life.
Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI primarily told the story of Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker. Luke leaves the moisture farm on Tatooine to learn the ways of the Force under the tutelage of Obi-Wan and Yoda. He becomes a hero of the Rebellion and is crushed when he finds out that Darth Vader is actually his father, Anakin. Along the way, he meets Han Solo, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and Princess Leia, whom we discover in Star Wars VI, Return of the Jedi , is actually his twin sister.
The Rebels defeat the Empire in Star Wars Episode VI , and Darth Vader/Anakin redeems himself by killing the Emperor/Darth Sidious and saving Luke in the process.
Star Wars fans know these facts, and many, many more details about the Star Wars characters.
For instance, many Star Wars fans are aware that, according to the Star Wars Encyclopedia by Stephen J. Sansweet, Han Solo was born on Corellia. As a teenager, he was a brilliant swoop racer. He entered the Imperial Academy “but his stubborn nature and belief in fairness derailed his career.” Solo went on to intervene when he came across some slavers mistreating a wookie named Chewbacca. Of course, Chewbacca and Han become lifelong friends. Since Star Wars Episode VI was released, several books were authorized by Lucasfilm that told Star Wars stories about how Princess Leia Organa married Han Solo and they had three kids named Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin.
Star Wars fans are familiar with these facts.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Disney, the new owner of Lucasfilm, is rewriting Star Wars facts. Last year, the folks at Disney said that Star Wars fans could disregard the information and stories found in previous books and comics (referred to as the Star Wars Expanded Universe) sanctioned before the sale of Star Wars to the House of Mouse. However, when most fans heard that, they assumed that the major changes would be to the stories told post- Star Wars Episode VI .
But, apparently, that isn’t the case.
Del Rey Books and Marvel Comics are currently providing storylines and details to fill in the gaps between in the time frame between (and during) the original Star Wars trilogy and the upcoming new film, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens . In the process, they’ve now told us that Han Solo was actually married when he first meets Luke, Leia, and Kenobi. The latest Star Wars comic put out by Marvel depicts Han’s wife, Sana Solo, searching for the Corellian in the cantina in Mos Eisley. That issue reportedly takes place between Star Wars Episodes IV and V, so Han isn’t necessarily cheating on Sana with Leia.
The question is, how will the storyline play out? Was Sana someone whom Han was forced to marry? Is there a divorce in the works to be enacted by the beginning of Star Wars Episode V — or does Han conveniently forget that he’s married when he starts wooing Leia?
How do you feel about Disney going back and altering what we know — or what we think we know — about the primary characters in Star Wars ?
[Photo by Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images]