“Scruffy looking nerf-herder.” The Kessel Run, in less than 12 parsecs. Who shot first?
We all know who he is, without even hearing his name. Just these simple quotes and references are all that’s needed to conjure an image of a tall, roguish smuggler, swaggering through a galaxy far, far away – with a twinkle in his eye, and a Wookie by his side. But how did George Lucas turn a character on a page into one of the biggest icons in pop culture history? What strange alchemy delivered to us a film hero who made such an impact in his few franchise appearances that his story is about to be revisited in his own movie – Solo: A Star Wars Story?
A pinch of this, and a dash of that – added to a simple, basic dough – is what gave rise to the upcoming, highly anticipated Star Wars Anthology film – which has already been packed with drama, before it ever reached the theaters. But, it’s a recipe for success that’s rarely been seen anywhere else, since that magical May 25th, back in 1977.
Indeed, the character of Han Solo stands as a masterclass in the capturing of audience imagination. How do you make an icon that transcends the confines of his cinematic origin, though? Well, these are the ingredients you’ll need…