Star Wars isn’t done with its sequel trilogy timeline just yet. A new pre-Force Awakens story focused on Han Solo promises to offer more insight into the events that shaped the modern era of the franchise.
From space pirate to Rebel general, Han Solo’s arc is among the most transformative in the Star Wars saga. First played by Harrison Ford in A New Hope (1977), Han evolved from a lone smuggler into one of the Rebellion’s greatest assets–and eventually, the father of Kylo Ren.
Ford reprised the role in The Force Awakens (2015), giving fans one final look at an older, wearier Han who still held out hope for his son, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). That hope ended in heartbreak when Ben killed his father in an emotional confrontation that left fans reeling.
Though The Force Awakens helped reignite interest in Star Wars after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, the two sequels that followed took the story in contentious directions.
The Last Jedi (2017), directed by Rian Johnson, made bold narrative decisions that sharply divided the fanbase. Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams returned with The Rise of Skywalker (2019), a film that stirred fresh debate over Palpatine’s unexpected resurrection and Rey’s connection to the Sith Lord.
The fallout from these entries stalled the franchise’s theatrical momentum. Since 2019, Star Wars has shifted almost entirely to television–but that’s changing. The Mandalorian and Grogu will kick off the next film era in 2026, and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter will follow in 2027, taking place five years after The Rise of Skywalker with stars Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth onboard.
Still, Lucasfilm continues to mine the gap years for deeper context, including a new tale about how Han lost — and attempted to reclaim — the Millennium Falcon.
The new five-issue comic series, “Han Solo–Hunt for the Falcon,” ventures into the years preceding The Force Awakens to finally explain one of the lingering questions from the sequel era: how Han’s prized ship was stolen.
“Less than satisfied with a settled life, Han Solo lands on the idea of reclaiming the Falcon and returning to a life of adventure. The problem is, he can’t find it,” the synopsis reveals. “After enlisting a less than enthusiastic Chewbacca, the duo embarks upon a quest to reclaim the greatest ship in the galaxy. Standing in their way are a laundry list of rogues who have staked a claim to the Millennium Falcon as well, like the villainous scoundrel who stole the Falcon, Ducain.”
Harrison Ford won’t appear in this version of the character, but the series still reunites Han with Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando for a high-stakes recovery mission.
Rodney Barnes, the writer behind the comic, shared his personal connection to the story in a statement to Newsarama (via ComicBook): “’Han Solo–Hunt for the Falcon’ is a dream come true. Han, Leia, Chewbacca and Lando were my heroes as a kid. To write an adventure that includes that quartet (and more!) is truly an honor. One huge check off my bucket list!”
Editor Mark Paniccia praised both the story and its artistic execution: “Rodney is pulling all these characters who’ve had history with the Falcon and having them cross their deadly paths. It’s a very fun ride that captures the heart of who Han Solo is while throwing him into some ‘uncomfortable’ situations. And Ramon Rosanas is doing some of the best work of his career on this. This is a special project for him and the detail he brings to the ships and locations is magnificent.”
The comic debuts on September 3, 2025.
Whether this new project recontextualizes Han’s role in the sequels or simply offers fans a thrilling side quest, it’s yet another attempt by Star Wars to reshape how audiences see its most debated trilogy.
