While it may seem as though Star Wars’ sequel trilogy, the non-canon corner of Star Wars comics confirms there is one way Harrison Ford can return–and it’s definitely not how fans would expect.
Harrison Ford made his debut as Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. When fans meet him, Han is a smuggler who has no problem bending his morals and breaking the law in the name of making money. However, by the end of the film, Solo is a changed man who decides to stand for something greater than himself by officially ing up with the Rebel Alliance in their assault on the Death Star. While fans are very familiar with Han Solo’s story after he aligns himself with Luke and Leia, there are still a mountain of untold adventures during his time as an intergalactic smuggler–and one story would make it possible for Harrison Ford to reprise his role within that period of time in the Star Wars universe without the use of de-aging technology.
In Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle #3 by Cavan Scott, Derek Charm, and Corin Howell, a ship full of Rebels crash lands on Han Solo quickly takes the job as it supposedly pays one million credits. When he and Chewie get to the planet, however, they understand why no one else wanted the gig as they were immediately attacked by miles of thorny vines that were controlled by a witch. That witch used the vines to drain the life force out of Han and Chewie, causing them to age rapidly. Before long, however, the two troublesome scamps escaped, killed the witch, and happily went on to their next adventure.
If this story were to be adapted to live action, it would allow for Han and Chewie escaped without killing the witch, Han Solo would not have regained his youth. This would be the perfect launching point for a new series or film as it would give fans more Han Solo content during a time when he was the most interesting while also avoiding recasting controversies and de-aging tech, which can sometimes look troubling as it sometimes teeters on the edge of the Uncanny Valley. Plus, the through-plot could be that of Han and Chewie hunting down this witch and restoring Han’s youth, thereby giving Solo a hard reset before the events of A New Hope.
While there have been rumors circulating that Harrison Ford will return as a de-aged Han Solo in The Mandalorian saga, nothing has been confirmed at this time, meaning it is all-too possible that fans have seen the last of Han Solo. If this comic story were to be adapted and tweaked for longevity, it would give fans much more Han Solo content while seeing the man who first brought him to life back in action just as he is today–a perfect solution that paves the way for Harrison Ford to return as Han Solo in the Star Wars universe.
