'SOLO': LUXURY EVIL!

Looking like a dagger slashing its way through space, the First Light, the luxury craft/mobile command vessel of Crimson Dawn's top lieutenant, Dryden Vos, makes its way to a further criminal enterprise, in this intriguing shot of the vessel never seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story back in 2019.

'SOLO': RIO BLASTS BACK!

The epic Vandor heist of Coaxium from the Imperials hasn't gone smoothly for Beckett's gang, of which crack pilot Rio Durant is especially fighting for his life now against Enfys Nest's oncoming boarders of their escape craft. A memorable but sad moment from Solo - A Star Wars Story. We were great fans of the character, and Jon Favreau's fun voicing.

CGI development.

'SOLO': DESTINATION: KESSEL!

Newly arrived on the noxious, deadly world of spice and slavery that is Kessel, Han Solo and his comrades in smuggling depart the Millennium Falcon, initiating a risky plan to steal vitally needed coaxium from the dangerous Pyke Syndicate.

A lovely piece of concept art for Solo: A Star Wars Story by Vincent Jenkins. 

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': MAKING PLANS...

 

Out on the cold, snowy frontier of Vandor, its time for the likeable criminal rogue Tobias Beckett to reveal his risky but necessary heist plan against an Imperial Cargo Train, not just to his beloved and comrade Val, but also to a new recruit in the world of shady entrepreneur-dom: soon-to-be space pilot Han Solo, in a scene shot on location in Italy for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP!

On location in the Canary Islands.

To play the younger version of an established icon character as Han Solo was a challenge that young rising star Alden Ehrenreich ultimately took on with pleasing gusto, delivering a fine performance of vulnerability and cocky assuredness that the character's onscreen originator Harrison Ford would ultimately approve of by the time that Solo: A Star Wars Story was released in 2018.

'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.

'SOLO': WAR BUDDIES!

War is hell, as the saying goes, and that's especially true for Imperial grunt Han Solo and his new hairy comrade Chewbacca as they're caught in an epic confrontation. Intriguing concept art for Solo: A Star Wars Story prior to the film's script being fully locked down.

'SOLO': THE FEMALE FACTOR!

The definition of a survivor, having endured such prior bad luck and hardship in her early life amongst the slave scavengers of Corellia, the resourceful Qi'Ra, as of the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story, was seen becoming one of the most powerful crime bosses in the galaxy via the Crimson Dawn cartel. And that makes her more dangerous and unpredictable than ever, despite her deep affection for former lover, Han Solo...

Acclaimed author E.K. Johnston, adept at developing popular Star Wars franchise heroines within all-new canon-related adventures, looks set to deliver another acclaimed winner with her take on Qi'ra, as Crimson Climb comes to Disney Books (US hardback) later in the year (October 2023)...

Rise to power, rise to control...

Solo: A Star Wars Story Actor Addresses Qi'ra Cliffhanger

'SOLO': THE CHARMING CRIMINAL!

He's paid off his debts to the Crimson Dawn crime cartel and since gone on to enjoy a high life of gambling, women and intergalactic wheeler-dealing. Now, when Crimson Dawn's high up the chain Qi'ra offers him a lucrative journey to the dangerous realms of the Spice Mines of Kessel, the challenge soon proves too irresistible to turn down, and leads to an intriguing first contact with another equally daring smuggler and rival adventurer, a certain Han Solo...

Donald Glover on Lando Return: Talking to Lucasfilm for More Star Wars - Variety

Donald Glover on Lando Return: Talking to Lucasfilm for More Star Wars - Variety

Donald Glover Says 'Star Wars' Lando Series is Still Possible - WDW News Today

'SOLO': EVOLVING 'SCOUNDREL'!

Now operating across the galaxy, ready for the thrill of the chase and the lure of regular profit, the young and gifted star pilot Captain Han Solo cuts a formidable figure in this great posed publicity image of Alden Ehrenreich for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

I've said it several times before and I'll keep saying it on behalf of the other millions of likeminded fans across the globe: 'Disney, c'mon let's have another Solo movie, or at least a six-part expansive story." 

Solo writer Jonathan Kasdan feels "conflicted" about potential sequel | GamesRadar+

Alden Ehrenreich says he's noticed more love for underrated 'Solo' over the years: 'It feels like a shift'

'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': 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

SOLO: A LITTLE SABAAC?

He's dabbled a little bit in its game-playing, now the raw skills of the young Han Solo will surely be tested against legendary super-smooth pilot and 'adventurer' Lando Calrissian in this great cover art for the now classic Sabaac match between the iconic rivals, captured by Phil Noto for the Solo: A Star Wars Story comic adaptation.

SOLO: BLINDED BY THE LIGHT!

In their bid to escape the gloomy heavy-industry world of Corellia and their underground existence of controlled slavery, it's now or never for Han and Qi'ra, captured and brought towards their underground 'guardian', Lady Proxima, in this great opening moment from the still under-appreciated Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'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.

'SOLO': IN THE SHADOWS OF FREEDOM!

He's played his escape hand, now Han Solo and Qi'ra are on the run from their enslavers on Corellia, making their bid for a new life offworld in the fun and memorable speeder chase scene at the beginning to Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT?

Within the lavish top level chamber of his sleek flying-knife yacht, an enraged (and facially inflamed) Dryden Vos makes a grim threat to hired gun Tobias Beckett, in a serious life-or-death moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.