solo: star wars story millennium falcon

One of the big questions fans have had since the ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ trailer has dropped was why the Millennium Falcon looked so different. Now we know why. The reasoning comes directly from co-writer Jon Kasdan who worked on the script with his father Lawrence Kasdan. The explanation isn’t really a spoiler either and more of a combination of common sense and from a single line we heard way back in ‘Star Wars: A New Hope‘ from a more experienced Han Solo.

As Han once stated to young Luke Skywalker, “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. I’ve made a lot of special modifications myself.” These modifications combined with the previous owner of the Falcon can quickly explain why things are so different on both the exterior and interior of this iconic ship.

As Jon states:

“Where Han gave it a certain shabby coolness and a dinged up quality that reflected where he was at that point in his life, this Falcon reflects its owner very clearly in its shape and aesthetic and his needs, even if those needs be a little more space to entertain.
One of the things Larry and I had talked about was the Falcon should always reflect the personality of its captain.”

We all know that Solo ends up winning the Falcon from a game of Sabacc from Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian  in the film. Solo is a young smuggler who grows into quite an infamous scoundrel while Calrissian is a flamboyant playboy of a smuggler. It isn’t just the outfits and fur coat that Lando has going for him as he’s got a style about him that extends to his party ship as well.

As to why Solo lets the ship get so grimy as the years go on? “It’s safer in the galaxy to fly something that looks like a piece of junk. People underestimate you — especially if you’re up to no good.”

As to the exterior changes? Kasdan weighs in on that too:

“Remember, when the Falcon enters our movie, it’s already had a long life. Decades of existence. And it’s been modified even from its original design. What we tried to do with the whole movie was take things that we take for granted and love and turn them on their ear.”

It isn’t clear why the front of the ship changes appearances so drastically between now and ‘Star Wars: A New Hope.’ That is likely a story we’ll see play out before the curtains close on ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story.’

Does this explanation as to why the Millennium Falcon appears to have seen better days between these two films? Are you excited to know why changes are made to it over the course of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’? Share your thoughts below!

Source: Entertainment Weekly