Han Solo

"Chewie, we're home!..."

- Solo to his best friend and partner Chewbacca, welcoming themselves as they return to the Millenium Falcon "I use them for smuggling. I never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them. This is ridiculous."

- Han Solo talking to Luke Skywalker about his compartments. "Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh? You know, sometimes I amaze even myself."

- Han Solo to Leia, after escaping the Death Star. "Yes, anything."

- Han Solo's last words.

Han Solo is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He was the tritagonist of the original trilogy and the The Force Awakens, the first movie in the sequel trilogy, and the protagonist of his own upcoming spin-off movie. He is a human from Corellia who achieved galactic fame as a member of the Rebel Alliance and later the New Galactic Republic. He was portrayed by Harrison Ford, who also portrayed Indiana Jones and Rick Deckard. A younger version of him will be portrayed in an upcoming anthology film by Alden Ehrenreich.

Canon
Born on Corellia, Solo was orphaned at an early age.

Solo then entered the Imperial Academy at Carida, serving with distinction. He was kicked out, however, when he stopped an Imperial officer from beating a Wookiee named Chewbacca with a neuronic whip. In gratitude, the Wookiee swore a life debt to Solo became a smuggler with Chewbacca at his side. Piloting the Millennium Falcon, which he won in a game against Lando Calrissian, he became known as one of the best smugglers in the galaxy.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. Solo helped Skywalker destroy the Death Star when it attacked the Rebel base at Yavin 4, where they had taken Organa.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Han Solo returns with the Rebel Alliance to a secondary Base on the Frozen Planet of Hoth. While out on patrol with Luke, they witness a meteor strike the surface, but he and Luke both go to return to the base. Han, once safe from the cold, informs Leia and the General of Hoth's base he has to leave and clear his debt to Jabba. Before he can leave, he discovers that Luke has not returned and goes out to find him out in the frozen Hoth wastelands. He finds Luke, using his friend's lightsaber to cut into a tauntaun and provide him warmth and shelter until they are rescued the next morning.

When the Empire attacks the Rebel base, Han, C-3PO and Leia narrowly escape on board the Millennium Falcon. Han evades a squad of Imperial TIE fighters by flying through an asteroid field, and unwittingly flies into the mouth of a giant worm. Han and Leia fall in love during the journey.

Han and company go to Bespin's capital Cloud City seeking repairs and shelter from his old friend Lando Calrissian, the city's administrator. Lando betrays Han to Darth Vader, however, allowing Vader to torture him and bounty hunter Boba Fettto take him prisoner. Vader freezes him in carbonite, and gives him to Fett to take to Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi
Han Solo, still imprisoned in carbonite, is now a possession of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine. Luke devises a rescue operation and goes to Jabba's palace with Lando, Leia, C-3PO and R2D2 to rescue him. Jabba catches them, however, and sentences Han and Luke to die in the Sarlaac Pit. Luke, Leia and Han overpower their captors and escape, killing Jabba and Boba Fett in the process Retreating back to the Rebel Base, they discover that the Empire is building another Death Star around the Forest Moon ofEndor. Following his return, Han is made a general in the Rebel Alliance along with Leia. Reuniting with Luke after his return fromDagobah, Han leads the Rebels down to Endor to take down the force field surrounding the battle station, which is still under construction. With help from the native Ewoks, Han and his team destroy the Death Star's shield generator, allowing Lando and his strike force to destroy the Death Star. Han then reunites with Leia and Luke on Endor to celebrate the defeat of the Empire.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
In The Force Awakens, set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, Han Solo has returned to his old life as a smuggler. He and Chewbacca lose the Millennium Falcon to thieves, but they reclaim the ship after it takes off from the planet Jakku, piloted by the scavenger Rey and the renegade stormtrooper Finn. As mercenaries close in on them, Han takes the Falcon into light speed, and they get away. When Han learns that Rey is looking for Luke, who disappeared years before, he takes them to Maz Kanata, who can deliver the droid BB-8 to the Resistance. They are forced to flee when First Order troops descend upon them. Han is impressed with Rey's piloting skills, and offers her a job on the Falcon. She declines his offer, but comes to think of him as a mentor and father figure. When Rey is kidnapped by the First Order, Han sees her being carried off by Kylo Ren, whom Han seems to recognize.

Han and Finn meet with the Resistance, which is led by Leia, whom Han has not seen in many years. It is then revealed that Ren is their son, Ben, who trained as a Jedi under Luke. However, he was corrupted by the First Order's supreme leader, Snoke, and turned to the dark side. As Kylo Ren, he betrayed the Republic and destroyed the Jedi – much like his grandfather, Darth Vader. Heartbroken by Ben's betrayal, Han and Leia separated, while Luke went into exile. Leia asks him to find Ben and bring him home, convinced that there is still good in him.

Han and Chewbacca go with Finn to the First Order's battle station, Starkiller Base, to destroy the base and rescue Rey. There, he sees Kylo Ren walk onto the bridge above the reactor chasm. Han follows Ren onto the bridge, and calls out to him by his real name. Trying to save his son from the dark side, Han pleads with him to abandon it and to come back with him. Kylo Ren shares a moment with his father, telling him that he knows what he should do, but that he doesn't have the strength to do it. He asks Han to help him. Han agrees. After a moment, an unrepentant Ren ignites his lightsaber, impaling his father. A horrified Han looks into his son's eyes and touches his face, before falling off the bridge and into the reactor to his death.

Legends
Born on Corellia, he Solo had been orphaned at an early age and taken by the pirate Garris Shrike to serve his crew. He was treated cruelly and served Shrike for many years before escaping while in his teens. Solo became a smuggler, and fell in love with Bria Tharen, though she left him due to her duties at the Rebel Alliance.

Solo then entered the Imperial Academy at Carida, serving with distinction. He was kicked out, however, when he stopped an Imperial officer from beating a Wookiee named Chewbacca with a neuronic whip. In gratitude, the Wookiee swore a life debt to Solo. He became a smuggler once again, with Chewbacca at his side. Piloting the Millennium Falcon, which he won in a game of Sabacc against Lando Calrissian, he became known as one of the best smugglers in the galaxy.

Four years after the Battle of Endor Solo and Organa were married in a ceremony held at the Alderaanian consulate on Coruscant. The following year the pair had twins which they named Jacen and Jaina Solo. A couple years later they had a third child that they named Anakin Solo in remembrance of Leia's father.

After the final death of Palpatine Solo settled in to his role as husband to Leia Organa-Solo, who by then was the leader of the New Republic. He would at times feel frustrated because of all the diplomatic functions they had to attend, which required dressing up in fine clothing and being nice to other people.

Solo became friends with Kyp Durron and introduced him to Luke Skywalker. Sensing Durron's potential Skywalker agreed to take him as a Jedi student. Under the influence of Exar Kun, Durron fell to the dark side. After Durron killed millions of people by blowing up the Caridian sun, Solo tracked him down and convinced him to surrender. After Mon Mothma declared that the New Republic was not fit to judge Durron's crimes, Solo delivered Durron back to Skywalker for judgement. Skywalker forgave Durron and allowed him to continue training, and Durron became a Jedi Knight and later a Master.

During the initial days of the Yuuzan Vong War Chewbacca died when the Vong pulled a moon down on Sernpidal. Han grieved the loss of his dearest friend, pushing away his family for a time before reconciling with them. He and Leia had to deal with the loss of their son Anakin as well.

After the war Solo was horrified when his son Jacen started going dark. After Jacen killed an unarmed prisoner during an interrogation, Solo disowned Jacen. Upon learning that Jacen had fallen to the dark side and took the Sith name Darth Caedus, Solo and his wife made up their minds that Jacen was dead, with Solo pretending that Jacen had died at the end of the Vong war.

Solo and his wife were again faced with the death of a child when Caedus was killed by Jaina at the conclusion of the Second Galactic Civil War. They busied themselves by watching over Jacen's daughter Allana at the request of her mother.

Personality
Han is at first cynical, reluctant, and stern as he was only "In it for the money" in order to try to pay off Jabba The Hutt. He also doesn't believe in The Force, and believes that "Hockey Religions and Ancient Weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side". As he joins the Rebellion, falls in love with Princess Leia and eventually helps rid the galaxy of Vader and Sidious; He becomes loyal, helpful and caring towards his friends. Even though, he is tough and reluctant, He does occasionally have a funny side and can be very sarcastic. He also soft side for Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker, as he would take a bullet for them.

Trivia

 * Despite Han Solo's popularity, Harrison Ford hated the role: Ford was once wanted Lucas to kill off Han Solo at the end of Return of the Jedi, saying, "That would have given the whole film a bottom," but Lucas refused. However, in an interview in 2015, Ford admitted that "he was wrong" to want his character killed off.
 * Early concept art of Episode III showed that a child version of Han Solo was going to appear, but the role could not be filled. He was a slave on the Wookie planet, who had a hand in locating General Grievous for Obi-Wan Kenobi.
 * Solo's canon backstory will be revealed out in an as yet untitled film due to come out in May 2018. The younger Solo will be portrayed by Alden Ehrenreich.