Star Wars: A New Hope was released in 1977 and launched the epic space opera franchise created by George Lucas. The film introduced viewers to the fan-favorite smuggler turned Rebel, Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, who goes on to become a love interest for Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia. However, Solo originally had a different love interest in the movie.
In a deleted scene from the first Star Wars movie, Han Solo is seen to have a girlfriend in the infamous Cantina scene. However, the scene did not make it into the final cut for reasons unknown. Nonetheless, given the popularity of the Han-Leia relationship from the original trilogy, it is easy to understand that fans might revolt at the revelation of Solo’s other girlfriend.
Star Wars: A New Hope Initially Included a Love Interest For Harrison Ford’s Han Solo
Star Wars: A New Hope introduced viewers to Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, a smuggler who goes on to join the Rebellion against the Empire. Initially, Solo appears at the Mos Eisley Cantina, where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker arrive searching for a pilot and a ship.
In the original version of this scene, Solo was intended to appear along with a girl, who wasn’t identified on the screen by name. However, the character, played by British actress Jenny Cresswell, was meant to be Solo’s girlfriend. Furthermore, their romantic relationship was confirmed with a kiss between the two.
The deleted scene reveals that Solo has forgotten the name of his girlfriend, which causes Cresswell’s character to become irate. As a result, she throws a drink in his face before leaving. However, this scene was deleted from the film’s final cut for unknown reasons, leaving Solo’s original girlfriend a footnote in the grand scheme of things.
Jenny Cresswell Explained Why Her Scene Was Deleted From Star Wars: A New Hope
Jenny Cresswell appeared as Solo’s unnamed girlfriend in Star Wars: A New Hope, directed by George Lucas. The character is identified as Jenny on the official Star Wars wiki. During an interview published in Star Wars Insider Magazine’s Issue #128, Cresswell spoke about her deleted scene.
In the interview, Cresswell was asked about why she thought the scene between her and Ford’s character was deleted from the final cut. The actress stated:
I was told that the only love interest they wanted for Han Solo was Princess Leia. They didn’t want to make it any more complicated.
From Cresswell’s words, it is safe to say that Lucas always planned for Solo to end up with Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher. At the same time, Cresswell admitted that Ford was shy and reserved on the set but she had a great experience working with him.
Moreover, since the scene was deleted from the final cut, the relationship between Solo and Cresswell’s character isn’t canon. Therefore, fans of the Solo-Leia relationship, especially those who know about Ford and Fisher’s brief off-screen romance need not revolt just yet.
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