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| Rare image from a classic Harrison Ford publicity shoot as Han Solo, for the original Star Wars, taken at Elstree circa Summer 1976. |
In the thirty years leading up to the debut of the original
Star Wars of 1977, most of the heroes we'd seen in film and TV science fiction/fantasy were of the clean-cut, square-jawed, saving the galaxy variety. But George Lucas's supreme saga, though following some of the genre's past traditions with his central hero of Luke Skywalker, would also cleverly introduce a vital 'rogue element' to compliment yet clash with such noble ideals, crafting an altogether different yet relatable for-our-times figure caught in those larger-than-life adventures of the young farm boy Skywalker and his pained transition from gosh/golly wide-eyed innocent to eventual Jedi Knight. That figure in question:
Han Solo - self-made man of the galaxy, a top pilot and often in-over-his-head smuggler for the major crime cartel controlled by super-slug Jabba the Hutt on that far-off desert world of Tatooine where we'd first memorably encounter him, negotiating a new charter with a bizarre duo that wants to 'avoid any Imperial entanglements' via a necessarily speedy trip to the Alderaan system. Solo must have subtly smelt potential trouble with that 'damn fool' Kenobi, but with so much debt to pay off, there'd be no choice but to take the money and fly like a thief.
Soon and sure enough, the smuggler, and his trusty wookiee partner, Chewbacca, would be caught up in an intergalactic struggle beyond anything they could prior imagine!
Played with cool authority, alongside a John Wayne-esque swagger of confidence and an air of not suffering fools gladly, Harrison Ford's contribution to the life and birth of this incredible icon character of pop culture in Solo is not to be under-estimated.
Find out more about Solo's creation and development over forty years, plus Ford's film history-making part in the
Star Wars saga, inside the truly gorgeous and comprehensive new
Ilex Press book release gloriously celebrating the franchise's number one favourite character, and his unique and exciting life and times, written by
Gina McIntyre:
Star Wars Icons: Han Solo.
Here's the advance book release information:
Smuggler. Rogue. Hero of the Rebellion. Scruffy-looking nerf herder.
Han Solo has been called all these things and more since making his debut in the original Star Wars film back in 1977. Four decades later, the irrepressible Solo continues to be one of the most iconic and enduring elements of the saga.
Star Wars Icons: Han Solo covers the character's entire journey, from his genesis in George Lucas's first drafts of Star Wars to Harrison Ford's iconic performances in the original three films and The Force Awakens, and the character's rebirth in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The book also takes an in-depth look at Solo's role in the Star Wars universe, through novels, comics, video games, and more, and the indelible impression the character has made on pop culture.
Illustrated with a treasure trove of rare and previously unseen imagery, including candid on-set photography and stunning concept art, this deluxe volume also features exclusive new interviews with Harrison Ford, Alden Ehrenreich, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Ron Howard, J. J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Kasdan, and many more key creatives.
Comprehensive and revelatory, this is the definitive book for Han Solo fans across the galaxy.
Get the book here (available from November 27th, 2018)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Icons-Han-Solo/dp/1781576971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542378341&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+icons+han+solo
