'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: "CHEWIE, WE'RE HOME!"

A great posed publicity image of Ford as Solo (with Joonas Suotamo as Chewie) on the Falcon set during his first memorable day of filming, prior to unfortunate injuries sustained, at Pinewood Studios.

Unhappy with his character of Han Solo's ultimate contribution to the conclusion of the middle Star Wars saga with Return of the Jedi, I, and I'm sure millions of other fans worldwide back in 1983, were surely convinced that Harrison Ford's involvement with the franchise would be over for good, and that he no longer needed the character of the iconic smuggler to further his already successful career. So what an incredible and joyous surprise it was in 2014 that Ford would return one last time to play Han Solo for The Force Awakens, helping to launch a new trio of saga heroes, and brought back in part due to his prior association with the new film's director J. J. Abrams (the energetic talent who had written his popular 90's drama Regarding Henry) and the intriguing but no less upsetting idea of killing Solo off (which Lucas refused to do back in 1982), slain by his own son, and ultimately bringing-in character closure for the actor. And, of course there was the huge paycheck that would keep Ford in enthused aeroplane flying and fuelling for a good few years to come...

Conferring on an ultimately deleted scene with J.J. Abrams.

Who can ever forget seeing the second trailer for The Force Awakens and hearing the resounding, booming fan cheers when the first footage of Solo and Chewbacca together was shown for the first time... "Chewie.... we're home!" 

Han is soon impressed with the skills of the young Rey.

Han and Chewie on Takodana.

Finn helps his new friends load bombs as they ready to journey to Starkiller Base.

With new friends Rey and Finn on a mission at the dreaded Starkiller Base.

REVISITING THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF 'SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY'!

Solo awaits entry into the lair of crime boss Lady Proxima, in an unused shot from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Never has a Star Wars film deserved to do better box office success than Solo: A Star Wars Story when it debuted in cinemas during mid-2018. The film is great fun and Ron Howard and his cast and crew did a splendid job of crafting the young Han Solo's first rogue adventure. The amount of re-filming needed for the movie beyond what was originally shot by ultimately replaced original directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord has never been fully pinned down (sources vary between sixty and eighty per cent!), and photos of certain intriguing scenes cut or revised are unlikely to ever see the light of day post release (especially related to the late Michael Kenneth Williams leonine alien version of Dryden Vos), but we can at least sample a small amount of the originally planned material showcased through the film's media and publicity build-up and in selected tie-in books released during 2018. 

Enjoy this compendium celebrating the alternate version (and deleted scenes) of the film... 

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': CORELLIA RECRUITMENT!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': REVISITING A CANTWELL CLASSIC!

 STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': CHEWIE'S WINTER BREAK!

Alternate scene by Lord and Miller linked to Lady Proxima's crime den.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': RIDE 'EM, CHEWIE!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': GOING UP!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': THE KESSEL PLAN...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': BAD HAIR DAY!

We may never see the archived footage of Michael Kenneth Williams' original baddie (replaced by Paul Bettany's Dryden Vos in re-shoots) but we can surmise that he looked like the Leonine-visaged Hylobon mercenaries, to whom he was originally part of the same race.

Other related info:

Michael K. Williams sheds light on his former Solo: A Star Wars Story role

‘Solo’: Phil Lord & Chris Miller Scenes Still in the Movie – IndieWire

Does This 'Solo' Deleted Scene Give Us a New Glimpse at Lord and Miller's Version? - TheWrap

'Star Wars' Deleted Scenes: How Cut 'Solo' Scenes Connect to 'Lego' Directors

This deleted scene from 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' shows how different the movie could have been

'SOLO': DOWN IN THE MUD!

 

It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but just not in the way you expected, as a mud covered showdown is created between the young Han Solo and the angry Chewbacca so as to escape their confinement on Mimban, in another memorable scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

EPISODE IX: BLOWING OFF STEAM!

He may have been captured and restrained by the First Order on Pasaana, but that isn't going to let the mighty Chewbacca let rip against his loathsome enemy General Hux, in this priceless moment from The Rise of Skywalker, though its a shame that our Wookiee hero's painful reuniting with the former Ben Solo on the First Order Star Destroyer was cut. There is, however, a brief moment linked to it within the Michael Kogge-written junior edition film novelisation.

Kylo Ren Tortured Chewbacca in Filmed The Rise of Skywalker Deleted Scene

'SOLO': CHEWIE'S WINTER BREAK!

Image: Jonathan Olley for Lucasfilm/Disney.

Even legendary Wookiees like the mighty Chewbacca (as personified by the amiable actor/sportsman Joonas Suotamo) need time for a break once in a while, as seen here during the original location filming in Italy for Solo: A Star Wars Story, during 2017. These BTS shots captured for media publicity mildly echo those of Peter Mayhew's filming as Chewbacca, enduring harsher cold and snow during Finse, Norway 1979, for The Empire Strikes Back.

Deleted scene moment of Han and Chewie having a brief snowball fight on Vandor, watched by Tobias Beckett. 

Joonas Suotamo in costume holds an umbrella to protect the Yak hair costume from the watery snow elements.

'SOLO': TO DEAL WITH A SCOUNDREL...

Still on Vandor, the eager to score success for themselves Han and Chewbacca (aka 'hairy and the boy'), with critical help from Qi'ra and Beckett, encounter the charismatic, talented, but still crooked entrepreneur Lando Calrissian, to whom a right-price deal must be struck quickly to acquire his services and fast ship for travel to Kessel. A fun scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story full of effective dialogue, humour and good character performance moments.

Behind the scenes on the partial reshooting of the sequence.

It's also a scene genuinely honouring (if transferred to a space fantasy environment) the kind of atmospheric, cold and frosty western township vibe seen in popular seventies genre films like the Warren Beatty cult classic McCabe and Mrs Miller, a primary creative example for Solo's Vandor-set tone by its original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Star Wars: Will Alden Ehrenreich return as Han Solo?

EPISODE VIII: COMRADES SMALL AND TALL!

These dark days he may no longer have his friend and long time partner Han Solo with him at the controls of the battered but super-fast Millennium Falcon, but at least Chewbacca has a keen and fiery feathered friend to help him along in his battle against pursuant TIE fighters, in a lovely moment from The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson Reveals The Porg He 'Stole' From Set | Cinemablend

Star Wars director Rian Johnson slices open terrifyingly realistic porg cake | EW.com

'SOLO': INSIDE THE CALRISSIAN FALCON!

They say a home reflects its owner, and that's certainly true of suave smuggler Lando Calrissian's 'pleasure' vehicle that is the sleek Millennium Falcon, as seen in these great on set behind the scenes images from Solo: A Star Wars Story, at a time in the film before his beloved speedy craft is ultimately wrecked to hell by a certain young hothead named Han Solo!

Above and two great shots of the The Last Jedi's Falcon main hold interior redressed for Solo.

Learning about the bigger picture!

Chewie doesn't like to lose!

Donald Glover inspects his ship in early promo image for the film.

Ron Howard and Lucas pose near the chess board.

Howard goes through a scene with the film's talented DOP, Bradford Young.

Main corridor view from the hatch towards the hold.

Howard and Lucas pose during filming.

Ron Howard filming Beckett's race to the power room.

Ron Howard in the gorgeous Falcon cockpit!

'SOLO': THE KESSEL PLAN...

It's an audacious plan they have to steal the unrefined coaxium from the dangerous Pyke Syndicate ensconced on the legendary, brutal world of Kessel. Nonetheless, the disguised Qi'ra is ready to help the reckless Han Solo and Chewbacca in their madness, during this deleted Falcon corridor scene moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

https://www.vogue.com/article/solo-a-star-wars-story-costume-designers-interview

EPISODE VII: TAKODANA FIRE FIGHT!

Han and Chewie emerge from the ruins of Maz Kanata's destroyed home on Takodana and are quickly immersed in a running battle against newly arrived First Order forces, in this great image from The Force Awakens.

Action-packed private art commission by unknown artist.

Harrison Ford video chats about his career to Vanity Fair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNN1Hbg9oNU

EPISODE IX: PREPARING FOR EXECUTION!

Their mission to rescue Chewbacca has succeeded but also failed, as Finn, Poe and our Wookiee legend are captured and await execution from a seemingly eager General Hux, in another fun moment from The Rise of Skywalker. The revelation that Hux was leaking info to the Resistance was inevitable, though, after the finale events of The Last Jedi involving the rise of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.

'SOLO': RIDE 'EM, CHEWIE!

Images by Rob Bredow from Making Solo: A Star Wars Story, published by ABRAMS.

The heist begins of the Imperial train transport on Vandor, but not as seen in the finished film of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Before the eventual Summer 2018 re-shoots, it was planned that Han and Chewbacca would ride local beasts of burden, Kod'yoks, during the original interception (shot against blue screen at Pinewood with Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suotamo), rather than be aboard Beckett's stolen Imperial craft.

The creatures would ultimately be seen in the finished film but only as background attractions.

Get the acclaimed Industrial Light and Magic Presents: Making Solo: A Star Wars Story, here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Light-Magic-Presents-Making/dp/1419737538/ref=asc_df_1419737538/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311323025759&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14184965957953670129&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044978&hvtargid=pla-525143476760&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 

'SOLO': MAKING FRIENDS!

Their unique relationship may have gotten off to an extremely rocky and violent start on the hostile world of Mimban, but soon enough the familiar bonds of diverse friendship are cemented between Han Solo and Chewbacca (soon known as 'Chewie', to Han) as they are accepted into the unusual trio of criminals led by Tobias Beckett, in a memorable and charming moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

EPISODE VII: NURSING CHEWIE!

 

Having only just escaped the grip of a deadly Rathtar, Finn is now back in the relative safety of the Millennium Falcon hold, though soon finds himself under the paws of an angry and wounded wookiee he's trying to tend to, in a fun scene from The Force Awakens. 

EPISODE VIII: FALCON SEARCHERS!

Having destroyed their First Order TIE fighter pursuers with flying skills and cannon fire, Rey and Chewie pilot the Millennium Falcon in search of their besieged Resistance colleagues, in this great angle image from The Last Jedi.

'SOLO': HIJACKED BY HIJACKERS!

And it was going so well for Tobias Beckett and his new team with the planned to perfection start of their hijacking of Coaxium furl from an Imperial Conveyex... Now the potential worry of an appearance from the deadly Enfys Nest and her Swoop Gang has become a decidedly lethal reality, in this great action shot from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

EPISODE IX: RESISTANCE INCURSION!

Having freed the captive Chewbacca, Finn and Poe begin their retreat action within the belly of the First Order star destroyer Steadfast, making swift work in dispatching approaching enemy Stormtroopers, in another exciting image captured by on set photographer Jonathan Olley for The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: SLIP-SLIDING AWAY...

They may have taken out their last First Order pursuer, but our heroes are soon caught in a futher slippery situation in the wastelands of Pasaana, in this memorable moment from The Rise of Skywalker which was achieved using special on-site underground built hydraulics for the cast to 'sink' into.

EPISODE IX: GROUND TO AIR COMBAT!

The fun of the Pasaana life celebrations are cut all too short for Rey and Chewbacca, soon fighting against pursuant First Order forces atop an 'acquired' speeder skimmer of sorts, in this great action image from The Rise of Skywalker adorning the cover of the latest issue (169) of Cinefex, the ultimate magazine covering the incredible and expansive realms of special visual effects, which is now celebrating an epic 40th anniversary in publishing this year.

'SOLO': FUN WITH CHEWIE AND ENFYS!

Image: via Joona Suotamo/Instagram.

Let's face it, who's going to turn down the chance to have fun on location in Spain with a cuddly. lovable wookiee like Chewbacca, nor the immensely likeable actor now bringing him to life in Joonas Suotamo? Certainly not young Erin Kellyman, who gave such an impressive performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018. Perhaps she'll return as Rebel heroine Enfy's Nest in another spin-off somewhere down the line?

Miss Kellyman talks about her special role:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6Z0Xr-t68&list=PL148kCvXk8pDbF6fs3PUYRcVaqx7Z2Z3r&index=20&t=0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6Z0Xr-t68