Disney Had “A Big Debate” About Killing Han Solo

“Star Wars” will always be about two warring sides, but we’re not talking about the darkness and the light. Rather, it’s all about maximizing brand value, which often runs against making bold storytelling choices. It’s part of reason why Lucasfilm has had some directorial conflict of late, with Gareth Edwards being overrun on “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” and Phil Lord and Chris Miller straight up bouncing from the upcoming Han Solo movie. Even one of the biggest narrative twists in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” came under scrutiny from top brass.

At Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit in Los Angeles, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger admitted that killing off fan favorite Han Solo wasn’t something that was immediately approved.

“We had a big debate about Han Solo,” Iger admitted (via ScreenRant). “Should he die or not? It was a decision made by [Kathleen] Kennedy and [J.J.] Abrams, but I got involved.”

Frankly, when storytelling decisions start going up all the way to the desk of the CEO, it’s easy to understand why Lucasfilm has had some not no flattering press lately. One wonders if there are some gatekeepers being over-protective about the brand, or more concerned with how many Han Solo toys they can sell, versus what helps the franchise stay refreshing and interesting. This certainly won’t be the first or last time major story developments go up the chain of the command, but it’s a useful insight into how decisions are made regarding “Star Wars.”

At any rate, one person who is really happy to see Han Solo gone is Harrison Ford, who has been wishing for this fate to meet his character since the original trilogy. And as he explains to USA Today below, the character’s death brought real narrative depth to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” I’d have to agree.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opens on December 15th.