Star Wars Speculation: Clarifying the Kenobi Clickbait

Unlike my other Star Wars Speculation posts, I did not put much planning into this one. This is not something I anticipated writing because I didn't expect a tweet of mine to circulate online as much as it has. For those confused what I'm referring to, last weekend I went to Comicpalooza, met Ray Park, and tweeted the following:

And the last person I met for the weekend was Ray Park. Very nice guy! Had a chat with him about the character of Darth Maul and various Lucasfilm endeavors. I’m just gonna say he strongly implied that a Kenobi movie will happen so all the reports are PROBABLY legit. pic.twitter.com/XV7lgNXdWJ

— David Weiser (@weiser_david) May 26, 2018

A mutual Twitter follower soon reached out to me via direct message asking about my conversation with Ray Park and then for permission to source my tweet over on Super Bro Movies. I agreed, of course, and honestly figured nothing much would come of it. That quickly proved not to be the case though as the article blew up on Reddit and soon spawned several other articles and videos. Just google "David Weiser Kenobi" or "Ray Park Kenobi" and you'll quickly see what I mean. Anyways, I think the Super Bros Movies' article represented my comments wonderfully so that site doesn't fall under the "clickbait" umbrella I'm referring to. In light of all this, I thought it would be well worth it for me to add my own two cents of the context of this original conversation since I was actually there. 

**Spoiler Warning for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Solo: A Star Wars Story**

My interaction with Ray Park

The interaction essentially went as follows:

I waited in line to meet Park and selected an 8" x 10" photo for him to autograph. While waiting in line, I noticed he seemed very personable and talkative. Since I had recently seen Solo: A Star Wars Story and been taken off-guard by Maul's unexpected appearance, I figured it was worth a shot to bring that up in conversation.

As I approached him, I shook his hand and introduced myself. At that point, I told him that I saw Solo last Thursday and was really surprised to see Maul show up. You could tell immediately that he was VERY excited to talk about it because his eyes lit up instantly. He asked what I thought of the film and how surprised I was by the cameo. I told him I loved Solo and was taken completely off-guard when Maul appeared because I was expecting Jabba the Hutt or Boba Fett to show up as the big "surprise cameos" since they're more commonly associated with the character of Han Solo.

He let me know that he's had to keep the cameo a secret for an entire year or so and has been eagerly awaiting the fan response. We then began to have a conversation about the character where we agreed to both be excited about the Maul's return in Clone Wars and Rebels because it really fleshed out Maul as a character and gave him a great arc.

I then rattled off some future possibilities for live-action Maul appearances which included a sequel to Solo, a Maul standalone, and the long-rumored Kenobi standalone. When I mentioned Kenobi, Park leaned over a little and told me that he really (emphasis on REALLY) thinks Kenobi is going to happen. He finished signing my photo, we thanked each other, and I walked away from that table a very satisfied fan because it was a very pleasant interaction.

Takeaways

What I took away from that conversation was the following:
1. Ray Park seems like a very nice man
2. Ray Park a fan of the franchise himself
3. Ray Park is really excited about the opportunity to play the character once more
4. Ray Park is passionate about the character
5. Ray Park believes the long rumored Kenobi spin-off film will be made.

I tweeted about it for many reasons, but largely because I'm one of the fans who is actively interested in the status of a Kenobi spin-off and I felt fellow fans might want to hear about it. I never imagined it would fuel the fire and become the source of as much clickbait as it has, but the internet is insatiable about this kind of thing so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. When I mentioned Kenobi to Park, I just threw it out as a possibility for him to reprise the role with no expectations to hear anything about the project from him in return. However, that wasn't the case. I don't think his comments are official confirmation by any means, but it does have me thinking there's a high likelihood that a Kenobi film will be made in the near future. I suspect we will have an official announcement with a December 2020 release date from Lucasfilm either sometime later this year so they can begin shooting in 2019 or it will be announced with more of Lucasfilm's future slate of films at next year's Star Wars Celebration.

Maul in Kenobi? 

Some are now speculating that Park must be involved in the film in some capacity to feel so confident about it, but I think it's just as likely that Park has heard the rumors and simply believes Lucasfilm is interested in the idea. Given his relationship with Lucasfilm, it's also not hard to imagine that he might simply be aware that it's in development.

While I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility of a Maul appearance in Kenobi, I think it would be a logistical nightmare to avoid retconning the confrontation between Kenobi and Maul in Star Wars Rebels. It's always possible that they could recreate the duel between them in live action, but that would also involve the baggage of bringing a live action Ezra and Chopper onscreen which might be really confusing for casual fans who haven't seen Rebels. The reason this would be confusing is that these characters effectively showed up out of nowhere from Obi Wan's perspective, and I imagine that's how the audience would see it as well. If they decided to do this, it would be very tricky to pull off and I don't think Lucasfilm is interested in retconning their newly established canon so it seems unlikely.

I know it seems weird considering I named-dropped Kenobi in my conversation with Park, but I'd actually prefer Maul not to show up. My qualifications for Maul appearing in Kenobi hinge on following the pre-established canon history of their characters. In my mind, the only acceptable way the two can interact with another in Kenobi would be a recreation of that duel from Rebels because that is the first interaction between them since the Clone Wars that results in Maul's death. Maul doesn't even know that Kenobi is alive and on Tatooine till shortly beforehand in another Rebels episode.

If Maul showed up, his appearance would need to be in a recreation of the aforementioned Rebels duel or he would need communicate via hologram with someone related to his criminal enterprise like his cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. If that were the case, it would be imperative that he could not learn of Kenobi's survival and location as a result of his appearance. So long as Lucasfilm doesn't break canon to include Maul, I'm fine with an appearance. I just doubt he will show up because of the canon complications that will arise. Maybe, it's for the best if he's not in it.

Recasting Obi Wan?

In addition to the Maul story, I've noticed that a lot of people seem concerned about the possibility of another actor in the Obi Wan role aside from Ewan McGregor. I quickly want to provide evidence of Lucasfilm's willingness to go to great lengths to preserve the continuity of actors portraying characters because these reports bug me.

Most recently, we have Solo: A Star Wars Story doing double duty with the Maul cameo, as the character was physically portrayed by Ray Park who was the physical stand-in for The Phantom Menace while Sam Witwer returned from Clone Wars and Rebels to voice Maul once again. Next up, Rogue One has a slew of examples. It's often brushed over that Jimmy Smits reprised his role of Bail Organa and they brought back Genevieve O'Reilly who only previously had played Mon Mothama in a DELETED SCENE from Revenge Of The Sith for goodness sake. Then there's the fact that they went to the trouble of digitally recreated Tarkin and Leia rather than recasting those roles. I think the backlash they received from digitally recreating a deceased actor will keep them from "resurrecting" Alec Guiness via CGI in the future, especially since Ewan McGregor could easily return. Based on all that and Lucasfilm's reluctance to recast in the sequel trilogy, I find it very hard to believe that Ewan McGregor would not return.

Conclusion

With all that out of the way, I'd like to quickly share what I'd like to see in a Kenobi standalone. While I think that particular Rebels episode, From A Certain Point of View, and the Marvel Star Wars comics all make a strong case for an Obi Wan film, I'd be most interested in seeing a completely new story. When I imagine a Kenobi film, I envision a film that's Seven Samurai-esque and involves Kenobi stepping up to protect Luke and the Lars family homestead from Tusken Raiders or bounty hunters against the wishes of Owen Lars. I'd like to also see a broken down, older, and wearier Obi Wan as a result of the events of Revenge of the Sith ala Logan. Oh, and Ewan returning is a must.

-I suppose that's all I have to say on the matter so, as always, may the Force be with you!

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Review

Nominated For: Best Visual Effects. 

Solo: A Star Wars Story chronicles the early escapades of a young Han Solo as he winds up deep in the dark, dangerous criminal underworld and joins a crew of smugglers looking to pull off a huge heist for a notorious crime lord.

Now it's no secret that Solo: A Star Wars went through some significant behind-the-scenes drama, as reports of the director shake-up and extensive reshoots were highly publicized and it was all slung around by the press as though this film might be Lucasfilm's first flop. For those curious what I'm referring to, directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller were taken off the project mid-way through production last summer due to creative differences only to be replaced by the Academy Award winning director Ron Howard. We recently saw something similar happen to Justice League, so I'm sure many have feared the worst since the news broke, but I've gotta say that the change-up is not noticeable in the slightest within the context of the film itself. You can tell this is a film guided by a singular vision at the helm of it all. It's not a hodgepodge of conflicting voices strung together by a committee purely to sell more merchandise.  

Howard's actually got something else in store for Star Wars fans. Solo is an origin story for Han in the vein of a western/gun-slinger with a youthful exuberance and the added benefit of a heavy criminal element. While Howard certainly deserves credit for the execution of it all (especially considering the amount of time he had), I've gotta hand it to Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan for writing a tight script. Larry Kasdan is quite familiar with Han Solo because he's been writing the character since The Empire Strikes Back, and it really shows in the dialogue and story-framework. The scope of the story is small, but the stakes felt intimate as a result, which is precisely how it should be. It's actually quite refreshing to see a blockbuster with such an adventurous spirit that ironically brought Indiana Jones to mind. 

Howard and the Kasdans also found a nice balance between treating fans to fun nuggets of Han's origin and revealing an excessive, unnecessary amount of Han's backstory. For those angered that the Expanded Universe lore was stricken from canon when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised to see quite a bit of Han's Expanded Universe history reintroduced in Solo. Of course, there are many easter eggs to be found as well, but I was really relieved to see none of them take precedence over the story at hand as a cheap wink to the fans. While there are certainly moments of fan-service, none of it felt egregious or unnecessary. Although, there's one surprise cameo that will likely confuse casual fans of the franchise. All I have to say to that is you'll understand it if you go watch the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series (it's on Netflix). Before I move away from the fan discussion, I should also probably mention that Solo bucks many longtime Star Wars traditions so just be prepared for that. 

Technically, Solo is as proficient as any of the Disney era Star Wars films. There's nothing particularly game-changing for the medium of film or the franchise in general, but the costumes, production design, editing, visual effects, sound editing and sound mix are all very well-polished examples of exemplary work from the crew. It's also worth noting that John Powell composed an accomplished score which occasionally incorporated an appropriate use of familiar John Williams musical motifs while the action sequences on display were quite exhilarating. In particular, I most enjoyed the Conveyex train heist sequence in addition to finally watching the infamous Kessel Run unfold. 

If I were to rattle off some nitpicks, I'd have to start by saying I found it difficult to see everything that was going on in certain scenes due to dim lighting. I largely just found this disappointing because Bradford Young was the director of photography on Solo and I loved his work in Arrival. This perhaps could be chocked down to a poor projector in the auditorium I watched the film in (I'll know for sure after a second viewing), but everything just looked very dark and dingy at times. Part of me thinks the projector was operating perfectly fine and the color palette was just grittier to match the backdrop of the criminal underworld as a stylistic choice, but one can never be too certain. 

One of my favorite things about Star Wars is the world-building that accompanies fleshing out a galaxy far, far away. So, naturally, I'm a sucker for introducing new locales and abstract aliens. However, I found myself a little let down by that component of Solo. The production team did very little to differentiate the "new" planets (some are pre-existing in the canon) from anything seen previously. Normally, I find myself so enraptured by the scenery that I unrealistically wish I could venture there. With Solo, that simply wasn't the case despite top-notch production quality... The settings in Star Wars are almost a character of their own, but they just felt like set dressing in this instance.

In regards to its cast, Solo had some big hurdles to overcome. While he may not have had first shot at portraying the character, Alden Ehrenreich brings new life to Han Solo as a younger, inexperienced version of the beloved scoundrel. Ehrenreich delivers the essence of the character we all know and love while taking ownership of his own version. I'm sure many are skeptical about the idea of anyone else in the role of Han Solo other than Harrison Ford, but I can speak for myself in saying I was assuaged from the get-go. Opposite Ehrenreich is an actor who really doesn't get enough credit... Since The Force Awakens, Joonas Suotamo has put on the big furry suit and chortled onscreen as the big fuzzball we affectionally refer to as Chewie. However, this time, Suotamo gets to shine in ways the previous films simply didn't allow time for since the burgeoning bromance between Han and Chewbacca is a focal part of the film. The chemistry between Ehrenreich and Suotamo makes the companionship between these classic characters completely convincing and it's quite amusing to see their friendship flourish over the course of the film. 

The other familiar face to be found in Solo is Lando Calrissian, who's portrayed perfectly by Donald Glover. Like Alden, Glover brings his own spin to the role that's already been previously popularized by another actor. Glover's take feels like it's entirely his own, yet is also remarkably in line with the precedent previously set by Billy Dee Williams. Glover just oozes the eccentric ol' smoothie charisma required for the role and will charm your socks off. Phoebe Waller-Bridge plugs into the affairs as L3-37, Lando's navigator droid who's a vocal droids-rights activist. Waller-Bridge steals many scenes with some well-timed quips and certainly stood out as one of the funnier characters in the crowded cast.

 

Rounding out the cast, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Jon Favreau, and Paul Bettany all do a fine job playing a host of characters with mysterious, ever-changing motivations. These are Qi'ra, Tobias Beckett, Val, Rio Durant, and Dryden Vos respectively, but I'm going to stay out of specifics to avoid spoiling anything. 

Lastly, a reoccurring threat for Solo and his band of smugglers is the marauder and leader of the Cloud-Rider gang, Enfys Nest. I found this character to be very cool along with her devoted group of followers and liked how they played into things, but I'll leave it at that since the character's masked and this is a spoiler-free review.

Really, Solo had everything I could ever want from a standalone Han Solo story. In spite of a troubled production, Solo: A Star Wars Story tells a fun, fairly risk-free adventure that I can't wait to experience again. You better buckle up baby, because Solo: A Star Wars Story is the summer blockbuster you're gonna want to ride over and over at light speed!

Film Assessment: B+

Star Wars Speculation: The Smuggler

It's been awhile since my last Star Wars Speculation, but I figured I needed to whip something together for this week's release of Solo: A Star Wars Story. After thinking it over, I decided to make this post the first in a three-part series. The series of posts will highlight each member of the Original Trilogy's protagonist trio and be titled The Smuggler, The Princess, and The Jedi Knight respectively. Naturally, I figured Solo would be a good starting point. It's also worth noting that I'll be incorporating a brief discussion of each character's latest tie-in novel for my analysis (Last Shot, Leia: Princess of Alderaan, and The Legend of Luke Skywalker) and I've reached out to my Twitter followers asking for their thoughts on these characters so I'll highlight their responses at the beginning of each post.

Twitter Responses

So, same as last time, if you wouldn’t mind answering these two questions, it would be greatly appreciated and your response may even be featured in my post!
WHO is the character of Han Solo to YOU? &
WHAT does the character of Han Solo mean to YOU? pic.twitter.com/nJufgz2CID

— David Weiser (@weiser_david) May 22, 2018

1) Han Solo was more than just a good smuggler and a crack shot. He was always one step ahead of the Empire. His sarcastic and cocky manner made him feel more real and relatable. Hero isn’t the word you would associate with someone like him,yet you find yourself more drawn to him

— Kara Byrne (@Kara_Byrne_) May 23, 2018

2) He’s charming and compelling. He’s the comical character yet comes across as the heroic figure. His sense of adventure is something everyone can relate to especially me, and anyone who’s best friends with a Wookiee, is awesome in my books.

— Kara Byrne (@Kara_Byrne_) May 23, 2018

1. To me Han is the real reluctant hero of the original trilogy. I mean, Luke’s hero’s journey is cool and all, but Han has always felt like the real beating heart of the story, the every man dragged out of his comfort zone.

— Beck Bros (@beck_bros) May 22, 2018

2. Han was the first “movie scoundrel” I ever got attached to, so for me, he was an example of how “flawed” characters are always the most compelling. I connected a lot with him, which might say something. Lol

— Beck Bros (@beck_bros) May 22, 2018

Han Solo to me is the smuggler who became a hero. A hero who became a legend just as his friends. He the best friend who can you get into trouble with and Get you out. His the greatest pilot in the galaxy, with the coolest ship ever.

— Kieran Bennett (@KieranMBennett) May 22, 2018

To me he means a man trying to do the right thing even if he know it’s not going to go well. When he tried to reach out to his son, Liea said your his farther, Luke is a Jedi. He knew he wasn’t going to end well but he never gave up.

— Kieran Bennett (@KieranMBennett) May 22, 2018

Solo: The Smuggler 

Han Solo can best be described as a scoundrel with a heart of gold. Over the characters' 41 year history, that much has remained constant. When we first meet him in the Mos Eisley Cantina, he's boastful, confident, and dubious that an all-powerful force could control his destiny. Han gets by on dumb luck, putting his faith into reckless action because it's proven successful more often than not. Why try anything else if you're good with a blaster and captain of the fastest ship in the galaxy? Han's the kind of guy that will try and talk his way out of a hairy situation till there's no other choice but to blast the problem away. Once there's no other alternative, he shoots first and asks questions later. 

Compounding his roguish behavior, Han Solo always looks out for himself first, his loyal Wookie companion second, and that's it. He couldn't possibly muster the motivation to care about anything else at this point. Han is initially driven by a selfish desire to save his own neck. He only agrees to help Obi Wan and Luke because the reward could prove useful in paying off Jabba the Hutt and getting the slug off his back. He's not a hero, not yet at least... However, Luke's virtue and worldview rubs off on him a bit as he slowly becomes more interested in helping others and begins to sees the galaxy through a different lens. He swoops in to save Luke at the end of A New Hope not for glory or more financial reward, but because he knows he's able to help a friend and now has a desire to do his part in the larger Rebellion.

Solo: The Scoundrel

Han had numerous chances to take the money, leave, and never return, but he's still around three years later when the Rebellion's holed up on Hoth. The problem is that he's scared of commitment and isn't quite sure he can admit to himself that he actually has a desire to stay. He claims to want to settle his debt with Jabba, but persistently sticks around to help out his friends. Just look to the first thirty minutes in which he journeys out into the planet's frozen wasteland to find Luke or later when he takes Leia and C-3PO with him and Chewie in the evacuation of Hoth. He doesn't leave anyone high and dry at this point because he's grown to care about these newfound friend of his. 

He clearly stuck around because of his feelings for Leia, and despite her harsh rejection, Han does everything in his power to ensure she reaches the Rebellion's rendezvous point safely. Along the way, Han charms the princess with his wits and willingness to protect her. He pulls all the tricks up his sleeve and slyly avoids the Empire by flying straight into an asteroid field, hiding in a cave (which turns out to be a space worm they must subsequently escape from), and then attaches the Falcon to a Star Destroyer before stealthily drifting away with the garbage en route to Cloud City.

On Cloud City, the group is met by an old buddy of Han's, Lando Calrissian, who turns them over to the Empire almost immediately for Han to be frozen in carbonite and delivered to Jabba the Hutt. It's interesting that Lando is a foil of Han as they both are charming rogues initially in it for themselves. Introducing Lando as a traitor only further shows how much Han's grown since we were introduced to him in that wretched hive of scum and villainy. Where Lando betrayed the Rebels for his vested interest in his mining operation, Han did everything he could to keep them safe.

And I believe that's why Leia fell for Han in the end. She realized there was a good man underneath the stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder exterior. Sure, Han's roguish charm probably played a factor as well, but I'd like to believe it was primarily because Leia uncovered his heart of gold and saw Han for who he really was. Too bad it had to happen right before he was frozen in carbonite and carted away for delivery to a slimy space gangster.

Solo: The Hero

Next time we see Solo, he's the one being rescued thanks to some harebrained scheme cooked up by Luke Skywalker. Once unfrozen by Leia, Han's shown to be suffering from carbonite hibernation sickness. In these moments we see Han, the cockiest man in the galaxy, in a state of unease and confusion and it's very telling that Leia's presence calms his nerves a bit. Of course he's soon captured once again by Jabba and his crew and taken to the Sarlacc pit along with Luke and Chewbacca, only for Skywalker to somehow pull off an insane escape by defeating the pirates and bounty hunters on Jabba's payroll and destroying Jabba's sail barge. The heroes ride off into the twin sunset.

But that's not all... The Rebels rendezvous to coordinate an assault on a second Death Star where Han volunteers to lead a ground assault on the shield generator protecting the superweapon. Here, we're shown that Han finally feels comfortable committing himself to the cause. He takes the mantle of leadership proudly and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the Rebels win this fight. The Rebellion is of course victorious and Han lives happily ever after with Leia. The End. Just kidding!! There's subsequently thirty years of vaguely explored history for me to tackle!

Solo: Husband and Father

One of the most fascinating elements of the sequel trilogy and subsequent new canon material is how they enables us to view these treasured heroes through a different lens. There were many things that were alluded to in The Force Awakens, but the nitty-gritty details are fleshed out in expanding multimedia arena of novels, comic books, and video games. I've detailed the more commonly known background of Han Solo, but I felt his feelings on parenthood were well-worth diving into as well because of how it further defines him as a character.

For instance, readers are treated to a glimpse of Han and Leia's early life together after the Battle of Endor in the novel Last Shot. Other canon material had already confirmed that Han and Leia soon married and Ben Solo was born a year later, but Last Shot offers an exploration of what Han was like as a parent. Ben Solo is two years old as of the events detailed in Last Shot, and it's revealed that Han was pretty uncomfortable about being a father because he was scared he might screw the whole thing up. He's shown to be apprehensive about how the entire ordeal and relieved to have an excuse to escape it all for awhile when Lando arrives on his doorstep asking for help at the start of the book.

Both Han and Leia wound up busy in later years so Ben was sent off to train with Luke as a result. We know from Bloodline that Han and Leia never told Ben the truth about his grandfather, and Leia's heritage is soon discovered and revealed to the galaxy. Since Ben and Luke were rarely ever able to be contacted, Leia wrote Ben a letter to try and explain the situation to him. However, I imagine Ben found out elsewhere and was subsequently seduced by the Dark Side only to completely turn to Kylo Ren when Luke tried to confront him and only made things worse (as depicted in The Last Jedi). The public revelation that Leia's related to Darth Vader happens approximately six years before the events of The Force Awakens and we know based on dialogue that Han is racing star fighters at this point in time, so I believe Han went back to smuggling alongside Chewbacca shortly after Ben turned to the Dark Side. 

I believe it happened at this particular breaking point because Han tells Leia, "We both had to deal with it in our own way. I went back to the only thing I was ever any good at." when they discuss redeeming Ben. Leia responds that they both did. Based on this dialogue exchange and information gleaned in Bloodline, I presume they both went their separate ways when they got news of what had happened to Ben. Around this point in time, Leia was practically shut out of the New Republic Senate because of her lineage. Meanwhile, she had just discovered hints of the First Order so she began to form the Resistance as an independent military force in hopes of countering any threats from remnants of the Empire. On the flip side, I believe Han resigned himself to smuggling because of his guilt.

I think Han feels partially responsible for everything that happened with Ben because he believes deep-inside that he messed it all up as a neglectful parent or something along those lines. Therefore, he went right back into the criminal underworld because he didn't know what else to possibly do. Then, in The Force Awakens, it seems to me that Han sees Rey as a surrogate daughter just as she views him to be a surrogate father because they share various skills and character traits. I think some part of him thought he reconcile his guilt by helping out Rey and giving her a place in the galaxy working alongside him and Chewie instead of waiting on Jakku for parents that would never return. 

I think this also contributed to his motivation to go to Starkiller Base towards the end because he probably thought he could help rescue Rey from First Order and have a chance at redeeming Ben's soul in one fell swoop. On that note, it's also very telling to me that he didn't confront Kylo Ren when he first saw him on Takodana. While there probably wasn't much he could have done aside from yell "Ben!" as he does later on, I think it echoes his fear of being a parent that I mentioned earlier. The difference being that he's more likely scared he'll make things worse somehow. Confronting his son and failing would mean he'd accept full responsibility for putting him down a darker path. I'm not sure Han wanted to add anything to his burden of guilt considering he already feels like he's failed as a father.

In the end, Han may not have been the best at settling down and starting a family, but his final act is irrefutably one fueled by love and devotion to his wife and son. The man who was once one of the most selfish in the galaxy commits to a purely selfless act to redeem his son. Han wants Ben back for Leia's sake, as well as his own, because neither could bear to think what had become of their son. So Han confronts his son and offers to help free him of his pain before being met with a lightsaber through the chest. As Solo begins to fall, he reaches out and touches his son's face one last time before falling to his death. Even while dying at the hands of his son, Solo still offers one last loving gesture towards Ben, which perhaps reveals more about Han as a father than anything else. Devoted till the bitter end. 

Conclusion

As of right now, I think that's about all I can say about the beloved smuggler, but we're sure to learn much more of the character's history later this week in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Seeing as I'd like to publish this post before then, I can't speak for that part of Han's life quite yet, but I'm excited to break it down in future online discussions!

-As always, thanks for reading and May the Force be with you!!

'Deadpool 2' Review

Deadpool 2 follows a disfigured cafeteria chef who struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste after surviving a near fatal bovine attack. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor - finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.

You may now be thinking to yourself "What in the world did I just read?" Well, you've now had the genuine pleasure of reading the first official synopsis released for Deadpool 2. Since this is a spoiler-free review and Deadpool is such an unconventional character, I figured it would be best to include an interesting synopsis instead of describing the actual plot because there are a surprising amount of spoilers I'm going to have to tip-toe around for the duration of this review.

I've been fairly excited for Deadpool 2 for quite some time since I enjoyed the first film so much, but my anticipation erred on the side of caution and waned as time went on for a few reasons. First of all, the marketing behind the first film felt very unique and inventive which is something I think Deadpool 2's marketing lacked till about two weeks ago. There were occasionally some creative teasers, but none of it was quite on the level of what 20th Century Fox's marketing department cooked up for the first Deadpool. I began to grow worried that Deadpool 2 might also lack the creative spark that made the first film such an unexpected and unprecedented success. Adding to this concern was the fact that Tim Miller cited creative differences and left the project, resulting in David Leitch taking the franchise's reigns.

Leitch's previous directorial efforts have been hit-or-miss for me as I found Atomic Blonde to simply be an okay espionage flick with a few great action sequences while John Wick (which Leitch co-directed) is one of my favorite action films to be released in recent years. Considering Leitch's extensive background as a stunt coordinator, I figured Deadpool 2 might at least be able to up the ante in regards to action sequences, but I wasn't sure if Leitch would have a good reign on the humor, tone, and story since he hasn't quite dealt with a film of this nature previously. 

Fortunately, Leitch delivered as I found Deadpool 2 to be even more enjoyable than the first film thanks to entertaining, well-choreographed action set-pieces, a surprisingly heartfelt story, and a huge dosage of meta-humor poking fun at the current state of comic-book movies and a great deal of other things. For all intensive purposes, Deadpool 2 is a fitting example of the conventional sequel which aims to be bigger and better than its predecessor. 

Just how Deadpool informed audiences right away that it would also be a touching love story, the titular Merc with a Mouth lets you know right out of the gate that Deadpool 2 is an endearing family film (although not in the traditional sense). While I certainly don't think the film is suitable for families because of the hard-R rating, it's undeniably about family. Now with those semantics out of the way, it's worth noting that star Ryan Reynolds received a writing credit alongside the Deadpool screenwriting duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. If I were to guess, I'd say Reynolds had a huge contribution to not only the humor, but the story as well because he's also credited as a producer. Reynolds has really taken ownership of this character recently and seems to be very passionate about the direction of this franchise so I can only imagine he wanted a larger role in shaping the character's future wherever possible.

Anyways, as I alluded to earlier, fans of the first film will walk away with a lot to love, as Deadpool 2 doubles down on everything which worked previously while adding new characters and story elements to keep things fresh. Unfortunately, issues occasionally arise as the film's story can feel a bit scatterbrained at times. While this is certainly true to the character, it would have been nice if these particular story-beats had been polished a bit more. I also could have used a little more development to flesh out a few members of the supporting cast (namely Domino and Cable). 

Another thing that was very bothersome was that there really wasn't any excuse for the production to not have replaced T.J. Miller in the film as he's had some very negative publicity lately involving sexual assault and a fake bomb threat. He has a relatively minor role in the grand scheme of things and could have been easily swapped out ala Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World. They could have cast Christopher Plummer and had Deadpool reference it in a quick fourth wall break to top it all off, but alas, that's not what happened. It's at least reassuring to hear Reynolds say Miller won't be involved in the franchise's future so hopefully his character will be left out or recast for X-Force or Deadpool 3.

On a much more positive note, Ryan Reynolds is once again exceptional in the role of Wade Wilson. Reynolds brings the character to life in such a unique way that I'm not sure I can envision anyone else  playing Deadpool for the time being. Reynolds' brand of humor and line delivery is simply well-suited to the Merc's exploits and I can't wait to see future onscreen adventures involving this current incarnation. Following his lead, returning characters from the first film include Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Vanessa, and Dopinder who each are proficiently-portrayed by Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand, Morena Baccarin, and Karan Soni respectively. In the realm of franchise newcomers, there are lots of additions to the cast, but three stand-outs in particular who I believe to be well-deserving of a mention. 

Of all the X-Force members introduced in Deadpool 2, Zazie Beetz's Domino is easily the most memorable for an abundance of reasons I can't quite get into right now. When all is said-and-done though, Beetz makes for a cool supporting presence and the I found the cinematic depiction of her mutant ability to be quite interesting. 

Josh Brolin killed it as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, so naturally I had high hopes he'd have the same luck as Cable. While Cable's character wasn't fleshed out as much as I'd have liked to see, Brolin really leans into the rough and gruff nature of the character to stand out as a formidable foe for Deadpool to face. 

Last, but certainly not least, I must commend Julian Dennison on another job well-done. Between this and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I've gotta say that this kid has a bright comedic career in Hollywood ahead of him. Dennison displays some interesting range as Russell, putting his comedic chops and more dramatic acting abilities to great use. 

On the whole, Deadpool 2 is one of the few comic-book movie sequels that sticks the superhero landing as a second entry that's irrefutably bigger and better than the first in just about every regard. If you can stomach the raunchiness, Deadpool 2 is a solid sequel which is well-worth watching and surprising in all the right ways. Also, keep your eyes and ears peeled for plenty of cameos and references if you're a big fan of any ongoing or extinct comic-book film franchises. Oh, and be sure to stay in your seat afterwards for what may just be the greatest mid-credit sequence I've ever seen (split into two scenes). I can guarantee that you'll regret missing it if you run to the restroom instead. 

Film Assessment: A-