Solo, the spin-off film from the billion dollar and pop culture legendary franchise Star Wars will hit theatres across the globe on Friday, May 25th. The stand-alone movie follows the events that take place before the first Star Wars installment, A New Hope. The film will focus on the series most defiant and brash con artist and smuggler, Han Solo. In the original films, Solo is portrayed by Harrison Ford, who was rജeading lines for other actors when he was abruptly cast for the role by George Lucas.
Throughout the course of the Star Wars story, Solo acts as the second owner of the Millennium Falcon, having won it from then friend and fellow smuggler Lando Calrissian. Solo pilots the ship and reluctantly becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance's battle against the evil Galactic Empire. While attempting to transport Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2 from Tatooine to Alderaan, Solo runs into his future wife, Princess Leia Organa, and adds her to the list of passengers he must deliver to safety with the Rebel Alliance. Solo was an iconic character throughout the franchise films in the 80s and the character also appeared in his own spinoff novels and comics. Since the tragedy of The Force Awakens (spoiler), viewers believed they had seen the last of Mr. Solo. But, no one is eꦚver truly gone in the infinite annals of cinema. Read over these wonderful memes and get yourself pumped for Solo next Friday!
20 Ben and Han: A Father and Son Story
If you haven’t seen The Force Awakens OR The Last Jedi, feel free to skip this article entirely. If you have, you’d know that Kylo Ren, the fresh creation based on the iconic aura of Sith Lord Darth Vader, is the son of Han and Leia. Throughout The Force Awakens we learn that Ben (the birth name✱ given to Han and Leia’s son) was one of Luke’s Jedi students, who sadly turned to the dark side onc♛e his power of the force overcame his desire for goodness. He first appears in the film, cloaked in a sinister mask reminiscent of Vader, as a commander of the First Order.
Eventually, Solo decide🦋s to confront his son in a classically dramatized Star War🦩s interaction, attempting to persuade his son to return to the light.
Sadly, Kylo was having none of that. But, everyone lives forever on the internet.
A genius Tumblr account reimagined Ben (played by Girls’ Adam Driver) and his Father Han (the renowned Ford) in a comedic set of circumstances, narrated by animated gifs. The light-hearted plot places Ben in the care of an older, grumpier Solo. 🗹Clearly, Han isn’t in the mood൩ for jokes. Can we blame him?
19 𒅌 MMM...Millennium Falcon
The Millennium Falcon is the franchise’s most influential ship, and possibly one of the most referenced in cinema. Its distinct shape has acted as the inspiration for many other television and movie presentations flying aircrafts. released in 1996), the original , , and all include an obvious nod at the ship’s smooth and sleek exterior. Lego constructed an Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon set that contained 5,195 pieces; the set tꦛhat sat at the top of the list as the largest physical toy created by the company. Sadly, i🐬t was dethroned in 2008 by the l. But, it's back in the top spot after the Ultimate Collector's Millenni🐈um Falcon set was re-released containing 7,541 pieces.
In simplicity, the image and power of the ship has acted as a source of joy for many children and adults alike since its debut in A New Hope. Its nostalgic reveal to Solo in The Force Awakens sent a collective warmth through the hearts of Star Wars fans. So the disappointment of a pizza falling to the ground is washed away as the pizza rearranges itself into the shape of the Millennium Falcon. Just like Obi-Wan’s disappearing act mastered in A New Hope (Too soon?).
18 🦋 To Canon or Not to Canon...That🅷 is the Question
If you 𓂃normally do not parti🎃cipate in the idiosyncrasies of fandom behaviour, this next meme might come off as a little confusing. The word "canon" in itself means nar🌌ratives or theories that have been accepted into the over-arching fictional universe of a story. Any narratives or theories that are not accepted in the fictional universe are deemed non-canon. In Star Wars, interpretations and stories have been bluntly divided. It's either canon or non-canon. Canon content is defined as anything owned by Lucasfilm or content licenses by the production company.
This meme is highly relevant because the franchise was purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, eventually declaring that plenty of older Star Wars material would be labelled non-canon and renamed, Star Wars Legends. Lucasfilm Story Group later ensured that all forthcoming novels, films, comics, and other content would be canon, and thus follow a consistent and continuous plot line. This was a direct alteration on many previous expressions of medium owned by Lucasfilm, who reserved the right to draw on material and also contradict it. The confusion as to what is canon and what isn’t rattles most veteran Star Wars fanatics. Even good ol’ Solo lost in th൩e incongruity of his own space opera.
17 Maybe He'd be Less Moody With His Mother 🦩
In The Force Awakens, Leia and Han are reunited after an undefined amount of time apart. Han tells Leia that he saw their son Ben, leading the ash that raised itself from the dust of the Galactic Empire. Leia asks her hubby to bring tﷺheir son home, despite his direct betrayal of all things light. The Resistance creates a plan to infiltrate and destroy Starkiller Base, the area where the First Order is devising their own attack. Here is where Han helps Finn and Chewie plant bombs, as well as rescuing the film’s female protagonist, Rey. Then Han has his iconic confrontation with his son.
Han: Should I walk onto the ominously lit bridge or leave with Chewie?
No one knows exactly how long it has been 🐭since Han has seen Ben, but he certainly hasn’t interacted with him in his full Vadar-esque getup at that point. Despite his assertion to Sith Lord Snoke that he possess no emotions toward his Father, Kylo initially appears regretful, even yearning for his Father’s compassion. Han does his best to appeal to him and relay Snoke’s sole desire to manipulate Kylo’s youthful hatred for his own menacing benefit. But, I’m sure as everyone knows by now, Kylo is not convinced. Rids his Father of this and any Star Warℱs universe Lucasfilm can devise. Maybe there wasn’t much benefit to this attempt?
16 💮 Get Ready for The Dad Jokes! 🧜
Han Solo is no longer what you’d call a "young man". Though Harrison Ford was not a spring chicken in the eyes of Hollywood during his first portrayal of Han in 1977 at the age of 35, he was certainly quite a few decades older in The Force Awakens in comparison to when we last saw him. Plus, at some unknown time in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, he has become a father to Ben Solo, named after serene Jedi Ben Kenobi who passed in A New Hope.
Having children grants you some permission to be the largest irritant in your offspring’s life, because who else will prepare them for the onslaught of terrible Galactic Empire humour? Kylo had clearly adopted the d🌼ark side's desire for jokes. Han was probably bursting with that iconic wit and strictly superior Dad jokes to take out on his only son. The Force Awakens is positively slathered with Solo’s legendary observational cracks, delivered with the driest of sarcastic undertones. The time is perfect when Han runs into his betraying son, alluding to the unproven rumour that Rey may somehow be related in the Solo-Skywalker genetic line.
15 🦩 𝓰 Worst. Shortcut. Ever.
This meme refers to the pure innocence that is Luke Skywalker in A New Hope. As they are flying with the Millennium Falcon, they spot, for the first time, what turns out to be the Death Star, the space station whose creation was attempted to be thwarted in Rouge One. Luke mistakes it for a moon, while the experienced Obi-Wan correctly identifies it as what it is. Han doesn’t seem so convinced as he has vast experience travelling all over the galaxy. Both Han and Luke are eventually proven greatly wrong as the Death Star is indeed a super-w🐻eapon, meant to annihilate any enemy it aims toward.
Rouge One showed the space station’s initial birthing by weapons developer Orson Krennic (played by Ben Mendelsohn), who pressures research scientist Galen Erso (played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen) into finishing the construction of the ominous mass. A similar space base is constructed in The Force Awakens, relabelled Starkiller Base, the area that is later blown up by Resistance forces with help from Chewie and Solo, before he met his tragic end at the hands of Kylo Ren. The space station’s mass and perfect spherical shape does resemble that of moon, but it's clearly single scooping crater places it in another category entirely. But, we can all relate to Han’s frustration with the inefficiency of Apple Maps; thank goodness they didn’t rely on it to trac𝔍k down the Rebel Alliance!
14 🔯 No Wonder Kylo Got Rid of Him
Kylo is a highly emotional bad guy. Unlike the stoic Vader, who remains seemingly in control of himself for the majority of the original trilogy until his final end in Return of the Jedi, Kylo appears to be torn apart. It is easier to see facially with his mask removed hꦆow tormented he is with his decision to betray the Jedi blood that flows through his blood stream.
Since Kylo can remove his mask, it allows 𒆙viewers to see him as human, unlike Vader whose humanity is intentionally removed for most of the films.
The act of even owning a mask says something about Ren too, as he doesn’t need one like his Sith Grandfather. But, a mask in film and literature signifies more of what it's directly intended to do, conceal both vi꧃sual and emotional truths. Snoke sees through him, as does the viewer. He uses the act of ridding his father from this galaxy to convince not only Snoke, but himself that he is dedicated and unwavering toward the dark side. But, not until he shows an inclination of vulnerability toward his dear old Dad, who swiftly uses it as an opportunity to sneak in one of his much-anticipated Dad jokes. At least he was able to get a few out before his plummet!
13 ♏ His Na𒈔me is Yolo...Han Yolo
Han Yolo is a funny and commonly referred to meme of Harrison Ford pouring vodka for local patrons. Before the abbreviation was coined and overtly used by meme creators and youthful pronouncements, Han Solo pretty much embodied it. ‘You Only Live Once’ is this generation's ‘Carpe Diem’, usually proclaimed before doing something statistically impractical. Or, in other words, just plain stupid. Han has always had a little rouge inside him. He is a loner who is suddenly thrown into the resistance agaiꦉnst a galactic government. It would be a lot easier for Han to simply venture out on his own with trusty pal Chewie, but everyone knows that this isn’t what happened.
Han is a more ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of guy. He eventually diverts his plans to return Leia for a reward she promised, evacuating her from the area. He seeks aid from his old friend Lando Calrissian in Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back. But, Han is still wanted by Jabba the Hut for a massive debt he owes, which ultimately leads him to being captured. Before these event♏s occur, Han, Leia, C-3PO, and Chewie are pursued through a complex asteroid field. Han expertly flies and YOLO's his way through the asteroid field, despite the terrifying odds stacked against him. Han Yolo indeed.
12 M🥃ake Sure You Tell Him Before He Gets Frozen!
Despite their constant verbal sparring in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, there exists a clear undertone of attraction and affection between Leia and Han. Han appears as an egotistic scoundrel in the first m🍸ovie, who is convinced to rescue Leia amidst another thwarted plan for some extra coin. He is even more condescending toward her when he finds out that she is a Princess. Han doesn’t really have much res🐟pect for authority or rule following and Leia doesn’t have much respect for anyone who wants to talk down to her. She is put off immediately by Han’s projection of a narcissistic trigger-happy criminal.
When Han eventually lands Leia to safety, he plans on simply leaving her. But, a complicated mess of events flushes out the real Han, whose hidden fondness for Leia exudes in their frustrating banter. Eventually Leia realizes this herself, famously confessing for love for Han in The Empire Strikes Back just before Han is frozen in carbonite by Darth Vader. Leia returns the favour given to her in A New Hope and rescues Han from the encasement in Return of the Jedi. The two do go on to begin a🍒 family, whose genetic Jedi ability is inherited and, well, you know the rest.
11 🙈 I Spoke Shyriiwook Before It Was Cool 🍸
A millennial is a modern word used to refer to a person reaching young adulthood in the 21st century. Millennials, by definition, could only know of the Star Wars series from their parents and fellow, albeit older, knowledgeable film-goers. Millennials are being blessed by the various spin-offs and third Star Wars trilogy that expand upon previously displayed Star Wars lore. The newer films, Rouge One: A Star Wars Story, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, are modern takes on the classic story created by Lucas, 🐼but following str❀ict homages to the original narrative that become so beloved to sci-fans all over the world.
I'll have a Bantha milk latte.
Writers, directors and actors have to do their best to walk the line of remaining contemporary on their own take of the chronicle and to respect the origins that❀ existed before them. This meme blends a millennials take on what skyrocketed to popularity in the late 70s with the style of the 2010s. All I can say is thank goodness that J.J. Abrams did not take this to heart. Leia with a faded purple and pink look would not have offended as much as Chewie sporting hipster non-prescription spectacles and a red and black flannel shirt. Solo’s delicately balanced swag cap does reflect poignantly to that of the character’s attitude, along with C-3PO’s judgmental pipe and fedora getup.