Since we first heard about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it’s sounded as if Disney’s Anthology films were going to set aside Jedis, Siths, lightsabers and the Force in favor of exploring the more grungy corners of the universe. And up until now, it’s been assumed that Solo: A Star Wars Story was going to carry on that tradition.
After all, this film takes place after the Jedi Order has been purged by the Empire, and we know that in A New Hope, Solo famously says: “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” Throwing us for a loop though is director Ron Howard, who’s now teased that the upcoming pic might actually feature some Force users.
The story comes via Howard’s Twitter account, on which he responded to a Tweet saying “I love Star Wars but only the Jedi and sith stuff. Since this probably won’t have any of that im watching it all cause of queen Daenarys.” To this, Howard cryptically replied: “I honestly don’t think you’ll be disappointed – enjoy.”
Now, this could simply mean that Emilia Clarke plays a major role in the movie, or it could indicate that there’s more to Solo than meets the eye. Could we see a surprise guest appearance by a Force user, maybe? Perhaps most probable to show up is Darth Vader, who’s no doubt the most prominent and open lightsaber wielder around at this time. Obi-Wan and Yoda, while possible, are extremely unlikely, with both having disappeared to their various hidey-holes.
It could also be someone from the recently concluded Star Wars Rebels, and I can only imagine how fans would react if that happened. Or, perhaps, it’s a character we’ve already seen in the trailers who turns out to be a survivor of Order 66 who’s incognito.
Either way, cryptic missives like this are only going to stoke anticipation for the film – which by all accounts is ready for its premiere at Cannes on May 15th. Following that, Solo: A Star Wars Story will hit theaters on May 25th, at which point we’ll see how much Force use there is for ourselves.
