One of the absolute best things about social media is that you'll find amazing positive vibes and glimmers of hope. For every loud and angry fan online, you'll find a handful, well, more like communities that will talk positively about the fandoms they enjoy and I've been happily seeing that with Star Wars. And one of those positive fan communities spawns from the 'Star Wars News Net' site in the form of a podcast called 'The Resistance Broadcast' hosted by the site's contributors John Hoey, Lacey Gilleran, and James Baney. The three have wonderful chemistry and an incredible bond that I can't get enough of, but to my surprise they turned out to be the ones that formed the online movement #MakeSolo2Happen. Incredible, right?
But as I saw them and others use the hashtag on Twitter, listen to their podcast episodes, or see people in pictures wearing the shirts they sell, which I gladly purchased, it hit me. Not only is the movement itself magnificent, but even the sort of journey I had with the original film Solo: A Star Wars Story. And in this day and age, I feel this sort of movement regarding a Star Wars film that had mixed reception (which isn't new to the franchise) and low box-office numbers is so important to see in this day and age.
See, my journey into fan positivity began kindling more and more the year Solo came out in 2018 and I wasn't so much in the mindset of accepting the stories that were given to me in the media I enjoyed. Solo was a film the first time I saw it that didn't resonate with me all that much (although it could've had to do with sitting in the front row of the theater since my cousin bought the tickets too late). But honestly this was a film that I didn't necessarily hate after I first saw it, but I didn't love it and feel it resonated with me as The Last Jedi had 6 months prior. And I think nowadays with every Star Wars film is that I have a love for every one of them because of how different they all are. Solo may not have the same directing choices and beautiful insights of characters like The Last Jedi did, but for what Solo was, it was full of much excitement and thrill, which were elements of Star Wars that always brought me joy.
So, the first viewing I thought it was merely an okay experience that to me at the time maybe had side characters that were a little forgetful and killed off a bit too soon and some goofy, childish moments. And I wasn't angry about this movie by any means and I think for me it was a Star Wars movie I had to accept wasn't as immaculate as other movies in the franchise I enjoyed. But...something happened. I wanted to see it again.
A few days passed, it was the Saturday of its opening weekend and I hung out with my good pal Dan LaPlante (who does awesome work over at the Mignolaverse website, which you should all check out). He and I planned to go to a big sale at our local comic store and then head to the movies to see Solo. So we go and watch the movie and with seeing it at a better distance in the theater and knowing what was going to happen, I liked it so much more the second time. Also, I kind of loved it. My buddy Dan even loved it, too, and I felt the positive vibes from him led me to reflect on the movie differently than I had before. I'm not saying that I thought my opinion was wrong. There were things that were gray areas for me at the time and yet I still enjoyed the movie, but still wasn't in the super positive mindset like I am now.
Months passed and the more I thought about it the more I liked it. I let the stuff I enjoyed about it marinate. I eventually bought the film on 4K Blu-Ray and genuinely enjoyed and loved the film the more and more I watched it. And I was even a little nervous to talk about it with some staff at my local comic shop and they even said they loved it, which also gave me more positive vibes about the movie that made me love it more. So, I think what I'm getting at is even though I was used to discourse about The Last Jedi in those months leading up to Solo, which maybe it was a bit too soon to release another Star Wars film 6 months apart from each other, the positivity I got from Solo and the more I watched it made me understand that the light for Star Wars was still there and even for myself if I just let it in.
And after the months that followed The Rise of Skywalker, I was grateful to find more Star Wars love online like in 'The Resistance Broadcast' and that there was even love for an incredibly adventurous spin-off in Solo that was claimed by some to be a mediocre endeavor in the franchise. And you can choose in your Star Wars journey to continue and enjoy what comes to you or just say, "Hey, this isn't for me anymore," and just move on. But the fact that this sort of spin-off movie has this love makes me very happy, not only because the movie on its own is great, but also what it sets up.
What's so beautiful about the Star Wars franchise is that the possibilities for world-building are endless. And since Solo gave us compelling elements like Enfys Nest leading a rebellion and Qi'ra working for Crimson Dawn, there is so much to explore for these stories ahead. But to continue this story who doesn't want to see more adventures with Han and Chewie? The chemistry set up between them and the fabulous performances by Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suatomo respectively are terrific. I want to see more of that back and forth and not to mention Donald Glover stupendously pulling off Lando and seeing how much more he'll affect the history of Han and Chewie. And not to mention how Qi'ra got into Maul's criminal empire and what was set up there with Crimson Dawn. What did happen to Maul's empire or Maul himself in that period before his appearance in Star Wars Rebels? Only time will tell.
The story potential is there and the way these characters were set up both new and old have the beauteous opportunity to be expanded upon and could further the Star Wars lore. The talent at Lucasfilm has always been there to make these imaginative scenarios leap off the screen, but it's also a given that a lot of fans who relish in the fun and wonder of Star Wars that Solo gave us would be so emotionally fulfilling. The way Han stares out in the cockpit taking off in hyperspace the first time in the Millennium Falcon is how I and so many fans feel watching Solo and will also feel experiencing another chapter in this story.
I celebrate how this chapter in Star Wars was told in the Age of the Empire and it means so much to me and brings me joy to see others like me want a Solo sequel to happen. So please everyone 'Make Solo 2 Happen.' We need more of this positivity and fun energy online because it's all about having fun and celebrating the art of great storytelling. It's about the escape because the first Solo was able to provide that joy. But to preface please DON'T bombard the filmmakers or cast members on social media with tweets or DMs and all that. Just put that hashtag out there. Share some Solo apparel or if you have that special shirt and collectibles and all that fun stuff.
I even started reading the Marvel Solo comic adaptation from the beginning since I never got around to finishing it. I love this story so much that I wanted to start over. And I will gladly rewatch the first movie to relive the joy and adventure I found in that movie. The performances and set pieces greatly enrapture me. It is cinematic Star Wars bliss. I hope a second movie does get made, or if it continues as a live-action show. Any opportunity we get to see this corner of the Star Wars saga continue, I'll be there. So on behalf of myself and all the other fine folks out there who love this incredible galaxy, I say:
PLEASE. MAKE SOLO 2 HAPPEN.
@alexjcorey-
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