7 Years Later, Star Wars’ Most Underrated Hero Reveals One Condition for Franchise Return

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As a movie critic, I must admit that while Solo: A Star Wars Story was appreciated by many critics, it unfortunately underperformed at the box office, making it the only Star Wars film to do so. Debuting in cinemas shortly after the massive success of Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2, it managed a mere $393 million worldwide, far short of its staggering $300 million production budget due to numerous behind-the-scenes challenges. Despite this, I believe it’s unfair to blame Alden Ehrenreich for the film’s shortcomings. After all, stepping into Harrison Ford’s iconic boots as Han Solo was no small task. Ehrenreich expertly captured the essence of the character and gave it his best shot with the available material. It’s possible that fans still have faith in Ehrenreich for future Star Wars projects, and he would consider reprising the role under one condition – if given the chance to fully develop the character and tell a compelling story worth watching.

During an interview with Collider, Ehrenreich discussed the prospect of returning to the Star Wars universe. He emphasized that any comeback would require an exceptionally compelling script, suggesting that the quality of the writing is crucial for his decision.

Could Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo Return in a Star Wars Movie or TV Show?

A New Hope within the franchise timeline, it’s currently unclear if another film exploring Han’s smuggling days or early jobs for Jabba the Hutt will ever materialize.

If Alden Ehrenreich’s character, Han Solo, won’t lead another project, there might be chances for him to reappear in a secondary role or as part of a group. Lucasfilm has been developing numerous stories featuring the New Republic era, so Ehrenreich could potentially play a post-“Return of the Jedi” Han in a film like Dave Filoni’s. However, it’s essential to ensure that Ehrenreich receives a significant part, as per his one condition. Star Wars has been criticized for prioritizing fan service over character development, and centering on Han instead of other characters could be disorienting. It seems that Ehrenreich isn’t keen on making a brief appearance without substance. Instead, he desires a role rich in depth to delve into.

Potentially, a Disney+ series could explore Han Solo’s smuggling escapades prior to “A New Hope,” but there is uncertainty about the future of Star Wars on television. Disney reportedly informed the showrunner of “Star Wars: Andor” that streaming services are no longer viable, which isn’t promising for additional shows in the Star Wars universe. The second season of “Star Wars: Ahsoka” is being produced, but there’s no word yet on what will come after that. Given the potential need to reduce production, Disney and Lucasfilm might decide to pace themselves on television as the movies are set to resume.

Ehrenreich possessed an appealing on-screen persona and charm that made him well-suited for the role of Han. It would be delightful to see him reprise the character, but finding a fitting place for him might prove challenging due to Kennedy’s ambition to explore fresh Star Wars territories through standalone stories not tied to previous events. Kennedy’s vision is reflected in projects like “Star Wars: Starfighter” and James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi,” which hop across the franchise timeline to uncover captivating new narratives. Although Han is an iconic character, much of his story has already been told. It might be best if Lucasfilm decided to retire him for a while.

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2025-08-30 00:15