Credit: LucasfilmAn upcoming Star Wars prequel may take liberties with a returning original trilogy character.
If there’s one thing that has many Star Wars fans jolting upright in a cold sweat during the dead of night, it’s canon. But if you thought all the pre-Disney era material being criminally demoted to the non-canon Star Wars Legends was bad enough, you might want to brace yourselves because the original trilogy, of all things, could be about to be ruined forever.
While Star Wars‘ primary canon is mostly obvious — the three movie trilogies, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 — 2020), and pretty much everything post-Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 with the exception of the likes of the anthology series Star Wars: Visions (2021) and all the LEGO content — it is certainly not without flaw.
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Like many other franchises that have grown too big for their own good, Star Wars is no stranger to creating problematic inconsistencies within established lore, however big or small. A minor example would be the animated series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022), whose final episode contradicts the novel Ahsoka (2015) by EK Johnston it’s based on (although you could argue that the episode is simply an “abridged” version of the book).
A major example would be the live-action series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), which tells us that the titular Jedi Knight (Ewan McGregor) fought Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) for a second time following their battle in Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005), despite nothing of the sort being mentioned by either character in the original trilogy. Although you could counter this by suggesting that it doesn’t contradict canon, and rather that it simply adds to it.
Either way, the franchise is clearly obsessed with filling in all the gaps along its extensive timeline. But, in doing so, not only is it leaving nothing to the imagination, it’s contradicting itself along the way, while, as Qui-Gon Jinn actor Liam Neeson told Entertainment Weekly (EW) last year, “diluting” the “mystery and the magic.”
But, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of many upcoming Star Wars projects could be about to make yet another major change to the canon between movies.
The upcoming video game Star Wars Outlaws (2024), in which you’ll take on the role of Kay Vess (Humberly González) as she navigates the faraway galaxy’s criminal underworld, will break new ground for the franchise as the “first open-world Star Wars game.”
But while we know a great deal about Outlaws already, thanks to the official trailer, gameplay reveals, and interviews with some of the creatives behind the game, the story will undoubtedly come armed with many surprises for fans.
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Set between Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983), Outlaws will, unsurprisingly, feature some familiar characters, including Tatooine crime lord Jabba the Hutt and Han Solo. While no other characters have been confirmed, the game will likely have more original trilogy cameos.
While you’ll get the opportunity to work for (and betray) the grotesque Jabba the Hutt, unfortunately, Han Solo will, as the trailer suggests, appear only in carbonized form and as nothing more than a decorative wall-piece in Jabba’s palace, as seen in Return of the Jedi. Per long-established canon, Han Solo is “asleep” between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
However, given the nature of video games, which quite often take liberties with canon, Outlaws may completely retcon Han Solo’s journey as depicted in the original trilogy by having him awaken — temporarily, that is — from his carbonized slumber.
That’s right — the “scruffy-looking nerf herder “might be roused to help Kay Vess with something — which, of course, only he can help with — perhaps with conditions set by Jabba which stipulate that he has no choice but to be carbonized again once his work is done.
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What that would look like is unknown, but it would certainly make for an exciting mission. And who knows — perhaps you’ll end up having to chase Han Solo down after the mission because the rascal would most definitely try to make a run for it.
The downside to all of this? It would alter the “off-screen” events between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. While gaps between films or television shows usually offer much flexibility, messing around with Han Solo — especially if it involves waking him up between movies — would probably leave many fans seething.
Either way, it would be great fun to see the iconic character team up with Kay Vess, seeing as they’re both essentially cut from the same cloth: smugglers, bounty hunters, criminals, outlaws. With all that said, we’re almost convinced there will be a Han Solo-centric mission anyway, with Kay probably having to get the carbonized pilot from A to B.
And if Kay doesn’t bring Han in on a mission, she’s already set to replace him.
There are also many other ways the new game could retcon certain aspects of the original trilogy.
Check out the trailer for Outlaws below, per Ubisoft:
Per Ubisoft, here’s the synopsis:
Experience the first-ever open-world Star Wars game, set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, a scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted.
If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
Outlaws will be released on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S later this year.
Star Wars: The Force Continues
Even after nearly 50 years, the franchise continues to expand.
This year alone will see new shows like Skeleton Crew (2024) and The Acolyte (2024) arrive on Disney+. There are also two Mando-Verse movies in the works: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) from Jon Favreau and a crossover from Dave Filoni that will unite characters from The Mandalorian (2019), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), and Ahsoka (2023).
Other theatrical projects include Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s sequel trilogy-era film with Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey Skywalker, Dawn of the Jedi from James Mangold, and Rogue Squadron from Patty Jenkins. There are also new novels such as Star Wars: Glass Abyss (2024), and new comic books like Star Wars: Mace Windu (2024).
Spanning Disney Parks worldwide are beloved attractions such as Star Tours — The Adventures Continue and Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at the themed land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which can be found at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Do you think Han Solo will appear in Outlaws? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!