A/V SOLO: A Star Wars Story (untagged spoilers allowed)

Darth's appearance in the Han Solo trilogy was handled rather carefully - nobody actually saw him - Han only heard him (Han was hiding in a cupboard when Darth choked Admiral Greelanx)

I doubt they'd only use Vader's voice for a movie though - but that general idea, of Han not meeting Vader face to face, could work.

 

It's panic move. They are terrified the movie will bomb due to the bad press and lack of interest, so they're throwing Vader on screen - complete with full on markerting, even if it's a 1 second cameo - in order to save it

 

We haven't even gotten any footage, have we?

 

You don't need to be a weatherman to know you get wet in the rain

 

Man, this is starting to approach Fant4stic levels here.

 

James Earl Jones is 86 years old. I'm totally okay with Vader being shoved into every movie possible before JEJ's inevitable passing.

 

I thought his performance in RO was poor, and basically unrecognizable.

 

Well, I thought it was incredible. I love how he says "Di-rector Krennic" and "An Imperial facility openly attacked?!" Jonathan Davis's reading of those lines in the audiobook, while decent, sounded like a guy doing a Vader impression. Whereas JEJ is Vader.


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It's not a confirmed rumor. That site it's not exactly known for having good sources, or any sources at all for that matter.

....But I definitely wouldn't mind if Vader had a cameo.
As long as Han doesn't see him doing anything crazy with the Force.

 

The potential issue with Vader being in this film is simple, it could easily feel like pure fanservice, distracting fanservice. Like even Vader being in RO made sense since he was involved with the Death Star stuff in ANH to (and they used him sparingly in RO).

Pre-ANH Han was a small-time smuggler, there's no evidence that Vader even knew who he was let alone that they'd actually crossed paths, and Han was a tiny blip in the Empire's radar, at best. So Vader's inclusion isn't immediately as obvious here.

Now how it could maybe work imo, is if they do an ESB-type of scene. Like the main villain/antagonist, whomever it ends up being, talks with a hologram Vader (like Vader does with Sheev in ESB), or perhaps meets with Vader in-person, and then the latter explains the situation and gives said main villain their marching orders. That could maybe work.

 

Or, Vader could appear early - Han is at the Imperial Academy - he's graduating - Vader is one of the figures present for the ceremony.

I remember in a Legends comic (Biggs Darklighter series I think - Tarkin gave a big speech at the ceremony - with allusions to the Death Star. Something a little like that, but with Vader present?

 

Opening scene: Imperial ensign Han frees Chewie from a slave pen, and Vader sees it. Vader chokes Han to death knowing cowardly Chewie will run to save himself (Vader wants this to be the last thing Han sees before he dies). Except Chewie doesn't run, Chewie charges Vader head on and smashes into him, breaking Vader's concentration and saving Han. Han and Chewie flee for their lives before Vader recovers.

Vader announces on the holonet the 2,000,000,000 credit reward for turning Han and Chewie back over to the Empire. Furthermore, he broadcasts video of himself personally killing Wookiee kids and civilians, and Vader announces that for every month Han and Chewie are free, another 200 wookiees will be tortured to death.

Desperate, Han and Chewie turn to a gangster who promises to fix the situation--Jabba the Hutt...

Sounds like a good opening for the story to get Vader in?

 

Not really. If Vader wants someone dead, he makes sure they're dead. He doesn't broadcast it. He doesn't need hostages. And I highly doubt Chewie could get a lick in on Vader. I'm also sure Vader knows that Chewie won't run, I mean he fought with Wookies during the Clone Wars. And it's just a bad opening, as it doesn't introduce the characters at all before throwing them into peril.

 

Yeah, you're probably right. I disagree about the hostages though, he used hostages in ESB to lure in Luke.

Also, Sith Lords can be distracted as the Emperor in ROTJ can tell you before he died.

And if Vader wants someone dead, he makes sure they're dead... Unless they are Kanan and Ezra (maybe even Ahsoka?)

As for Vader thinking a Wookiee can become a coward, I'm sure the Empire has ways of "breaking" Wookiees and Vader might have overconfidence in those ways. We see broken Wookiee slaves in Star Wars Rebels.

 

When I first heard the rumour that Vader would make an appearance in this movie, I felt decidedly underwhelmed. What's the purpose of including Vader in this story? Is it a ham-fisted attempt at fan service? Is it a way of assuring the audience that they are watching a valid Star Wars movie?

If this movie is the story of a disillusioned Imperial officer cadet turned smuggler, then why would Darth Vader be involved? Solo and company would be a problem below Vader's pay grade. One possible explanation would be Solo's motley crew smuggling/stealing something of particular value to the Empire. This would be a rather uninspiring plot, treading over old ground.

I don't like being negative about Star Wars, but I am worried about this movie. A Han Solo standalone wouldn't have been my choice of premise and there have obviously been big problems with the production. I hope that Mr Howard can right the ship. Otherwise, we may be looking at a truly bad Star Wars movie.

 

It's more like a HAN-fiest attempt.

 

It's more like a HAN-fisted attempt, amirite?

 

Seconded. I straight up loved hearing Jones as Vader again. The "openly attacked?" line is awesome.

I say they write a Vader movie script and first thing they do is get Jones to record it. THEN make the movie.

 

Why don't we have a Vader movie in the works? Just ripe off Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader and it will be fine

 

I'm putting my chips on the following scenario.
Vader in his Star Destroyer after having just finished some *serious* mission (rebellion related perhaps) when a command officer informs him they've picked up the signature of known smuggler ship and they are calling in the nearest Imperial team to board. Vader realizes they are the closest and decides they will handle it personally.

star wipe to Han Solo and Chewie. Chewie tells him of the nearby Imperial presence and asks if they should dump Jabba's cargo. Han scoffs knowing what that would mean. He says "we've been through this many times before. I know the Imperials. They aren't smart enough to figure out our tricks. I always talk my way out of it." Then the SD is ID'd as Vader's. Han turns pale over the only Imperial he truly fears "Dump it. Chewie!!! Dump it !!!"

Imperials board, but not Vader himself. It's tense but the evidence is gone. They leave with a "Watch it, smuggler scum."

The ship has been compromised. Time to swap it out for one he's had his eye on. Chewie suggests naming it the Millennium Wookie.

 

I haven't been keeping up with the rumors for this, but I saw a few people talking about this on another site, so I figured I'd ask here if these are actual rumors circulating:

Spoiler

Is it 'true' (at least by rumor standards) that Paul Bettany is replacing Michael K. Williams, with the character now going to be a human whereas it was going to be an alien when played by Williams?

 

The first part is true -

Spoiler

Bettany has replaced Williams because Williams was unavailable for reshoots. Williams confirmed this. Ron Howard posted pics of Bettany in costume.

I'm not sure about the second part,

Spoiler

but Bettany had no CGI-related gear on him in Howard's pics.

Hope this helps.

 

Yikes. That's pretty messed up.

 

I've been thinking -- this is the last chance we can see Harrison Ford* and Bill Dee Williams on set together. I can't remember if flashbacks have been ruled out in this film yet, but it would be cool if old Han and Lando were telling this story together.

*That is, unless we get zombie/ghost Han or Haan in TLJ.

 

While I'm looking forward to Glover's portrayal of Lando, I maintain the opinion that Billy Dee more than deserves to be Lando at least one more time in any of the upcoming movies.