Its May 25th, the day the original Star Wars opened in theaters back in 1977. It’s also the day Disney’s Solo: A Star Wars Story opened in 2018. And now for two years in a row, a new hashtag is trending: #MakeSolo2Happen
A sequel would make a fine addition to my collection. #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/grC5OZsY0A
— Phil Walsh (@PhilWalsh603) May 25, 2020
Solo, was a prequel for fan-favorite Han Solo, a fun space romp for some and for others an unnecessary back-story for a character that didn’t need any. While Solo did make a profit, it wasn’t a hit. It earned $392 million globally, on an estimated $200-$300 million budget. Critics gave it a medium 70% total on RottenTomatoes.
All in all, the film was not a big success for Disney, but it also wasn’t the failure many thought it could have been given its troubled production history. So where did this hashtag come from? Let’s break it down. Could a sequel to Solo be in the works? Turns out, Yes. FandomWire has the exclusive details.
Who Made #MakeSolo2Happen Happen?
It looks like the #MakeSolo2Happen hashtag was first tweeted by user James Baney from Star Wars News Net.
— James Baney (@Mirahtrunks) September 16, 2018
In looking around their site they do in fact claim ownership, declaring the following:
#MakeSolo2Happen is a positive fan movement sharing love for Solo: A Star Wars Story and showing support for continuing the adventures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the other characters from the film in a follow up movie or a series on Disney Plus. The hashtag was created by our own John Hoey, and has been an active campaign of positivity started by our podcast The Resistance Broadcast with John, James Baney, and Lacey Gilleran.
The site even goes on to explain that they’ve scored support and conversations with many from the film and inside of Disney.
The movement has been recognized and acknowledged by many involved with Solo including:Even Lucasfilm’s VP of live action development and production Michelle Rejwan spoke with us about it at the Global Press Conference for The Rise of Skywalker.
- Director Ron Howard
- Writer Jon Kasdan
- Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca)
- Erin Kellyman (Enfys Nest)
- Ray Park (Darth Maul)
- Producer and ILM Head Rob Bredow
- Puppeteer Brian Herring
- Composer John Powell
- Creature Performer Nick Kellington
- Sound Editor Matthew Wood
That fact that so many Star Wars talent has been approved to acknowledge this campaign, along with LucasFilm’s VP of live-action development is in fact very telling. Disney doesn’t just approve things like this without serious vetting.
This Disney approval only supports a scoop we’ve had for some time, but didn’t report due to it seeming highly unlikely given the first film’s middling success.
A Solo sequel series IS in development for Disney+.
While we’ve previously reported about Disney+’s Boba Fett solo project and Ahsoka Tano standalone series… We’ve also been informed that a Disney+ series is in active development that will focus on Qi’ra and Darth Maul.
Now this is pure speculation, but could LucasFilm be encouraging and legitimizing this movement in an attempt to stir up more fan interest in this potential series that they already have in the works? If fans rally loud enough, like DC fans did for #ReleaseTheSnyderCut, could it work?
From what we hear, Qi’ra would be a series, or film, following the events of Solo, starring Emila Clarke. Fans know this is a world that LucasFilm was always intending to go back to, given the surprise reveal at the film’s end where Qi’ra turned out to be working for fan-favorite: Darth Maul.
The film ended with a tease that the two “we will be working much more closely”.
Darth Maul, who had been seemingly killed in his last live-action appearance in the The Phantom Menace, stood-up full-frame to show fans off his new mechanical legs and lightsaber, echoing his return from death in the animated series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Might LucasFilm or Kathleen Kennedy want to force this project to reality, to help justify the open-ended Solo being in its Disney+ catalogue? The truth is, while fans are pushing for Solo 2 today, more fans might prefer a series or film sequel revolving around a live-action Darth Maul, Qi’ra and his crime syndicate, over more young Han Solo character development.
Do you want a Solo 2? Would you prefer Solo 2 if it had less Han Solo? Share your thoughts down below. And check out these fan tweets chiming in regarding #MakeSolo2Happen
A young Han Solo movie was George Lucas's idea, written by the greatest #StarWars screenwriter and his son, included a theme song by John Williams, and directed by Lucasfilm original @RealRonHoward. It's as old school #StarWars as it gets, but also very fresh!#MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/BwEaUkZ9c5
— John Hoey (@JohnnyHoey) May 25, 2020
Solo doesn't deserve all the hate it gets. #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/sLLRU7Qptc
— Everything Star Wars (@EverythingSW66) May 25, 2020
Like the Millennium Falcon itself, Solo has it where it counts. Spirited, charming, and with more than one trick up its sleeve, you should never count it out!
— Jared Kozal (@jkozal) May 25, 2020
For Han, Chewie, Lando, Qi'ra, Maul, and Enfys … for all the scoundrels and rebels of the Galaxy … #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/xwQ02n8JNF
Our family is ready to #MakeSolo2Happen, are you? pic.twitter.com/SB94colE2j
— Adam Odle (@OdleAdam) May 25, 2020
#MakeSolo2Happen has already passed over 10,000 tweets today, and it's only 11AM. Even Luke Skywalker can't believe it! Let's keep it going! #StarWars pic.twitter.com/I03BUexrSE
— John Hoey (@JohnnyHoey) May 25, 2020
Did Qi'ra give up her life so that Han could live? Only one way to find out. #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/Qlme8JOMPU
— Mark (@da_kine_awakens) May 25, 2020
#MakeSolo2Happen We need mor Qi'ra!! pic.twitter.com/nezNxUNBIh
— Art of Ice and Fire (@ArtofASOIAF) May 25, 2020
I think we can all agree that @JoonasSuotamo was absolutely incredible in how he portrayed Chewbacca and deserves more opportunities to give us that love able walking carpet #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/R0mHRV4w8j
— Todd Desgrosseilliers (@toddnosebest) May 25, 2020
Han and Chewie say #MakeSolo2Happen
— Gaz (@gareth_vader) May 25, 2020
There is so much potential for a sequel or sequels.
The casting was perfect and there are so many decent characters and possible story lines that would enrich this era.
Jabba, Crimson Dawn, Cloud riders, empire and rebellion, bounty hunters pic.twitter.com/NzKKI0c8Oo
There are so many reasons, but most importantly – we love #SoloAStarWarsStory. We want to continue all the stories. #MakeSolo2Happen #starwars pic.twitter.com/1aRV5Kqhz6
— Lacey Gilleran (@laceygilleran) May 25, 2020
#MakeSolo2Happen Because of this image pic.twitter.com/jq5DbmAiTl
— J̳a̳m̳e̳s̳ | ???????????????????????????????????? (@jamessoIo) May 25, 2020
More Enfys Nest and the Cloudriders #MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/R21QXiuzim
— Rik Villanueva (@CadBanesBounty) May 25, 2020
The Solo movie wasn't the worst thing to happen since Disney bought Star Wars but if it never existed, it wouldn't really matter to me either. Han was cooler without this backstory. Harrison Ford played him better too. Not really itching for a sequel. Sorry.#MakeSolo2Happen pic.twitter.com/ZQcFdeQg8F
— Price of Reason (@priceoreason) May 25, 2020
Happy 2 year anniversary to Solo: A Star Wars Story! #MakeSolo2Happen my dad, a die hard Star Wars fan, would love to see more of some of his new favorite characters. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/k9r5MKcx7u
— Kristina Morss (@kristinamorss) May 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/PixelatedHaze/status/1264779411188056064?s=20 What do you guys think?
Again leave your comments down below. We’ll keep you updated, and if you have any scoops you can reach out to Andy Signore or Reilly Johnson on social media.