Here's When 'Solo' Takes Place in the 'Star Wars' Timeline
When are we, Han Solo?
The broad outline of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" was revealed in the trailer earlier this month, but many details are still unknown about this young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich). Who is Qi'Ra (Emilia Clarke)? How did he meet Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover)? Where is this mysterious planet he's seen traipsing on? What's the deal with that many-armed alien voiced by Jon Favreau?
While all of that may not be fully revealed until the movie actually comes out, a new timeline posted by Del Rey Books (the publisher of the official "Star Wars" novelizations) sheds some light at least on the "where" of it all.
As the timeline shows, the "Solo" novelization takes place after "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" and before "Rogue One" and the animated TV series "Clone Wars."
Specifically, the "Solo" novel is set 11 to 14 years before "Episode IV: A New Hope," or when Luke Skywalker was around eight years old.
The "Solo" novel is also accompanied by "The Last Shot," about Han and Lando's time on the Millennium Falcon. Here's a synopsis:
THEN: It's one of the galaxy's most dangerous secrets: a mysterious transmitter with unknown power and a reward for its discovery that most could only dream of claiming. But those who fly the Millennium Falcon throughout its infamous history aren't your average scoundrels. Not once, but twice, the crew of the Falcon tries to claim the elusive prize—first, Lando Calrissian and the droid L3-37 at the dawn of an ambitious career, and later, a young and hungry Han Solo with the help of his copilot, Chewbacca. But the device's creator, the volatile criminal Fyzen Gor, isn't interested in sharing. And Gor knows how to hold a grudge. . . .
NOW: It's been ten years since the rebel hero Han Solo last encountered Fyzen Gor. After mounting a successful rebellion against the Empire and starting a family with an Alderaanian princess, Han hasn't given much thought to the mad inventor. But when Lando turns up at Han's doorstep in the middle of the night, it's Fyzen's assassins that he's running from. And without Han's help, Lando—and all life on Cloud City—will be annihilated.
With the assistance of a young hotshot pilot, an Ewok slicer prodigy, the woman who might be the love of Lando's life, and Han's best and furriest friend, the two most notorious scoundrels in the New Republic are working together once more. They'll have to journey across the stars—and into the past—before Gor uses the device's power to reshape the galaxy.
It's possible "Solo" takes place during the "Then" portion of the synopsis, while the "Now" part follows the friends on post-movie adventures.
"Solo" opens in theaters May 25.