Why Leia: A Star Wars Story Is the Spin-Off the Galaxy Needs
Han Solo is finally here. Specifically, Solo: A Star Wars Story, the second anthology film in the officially never-ending story of a galaxy far, far away. There are already rumors of standalone films to come: Obi-Wan Kenobi has been the subject of plenty of gossip, in large part because the character was already successfully recast, and Ewan McGregor seems game to reprise the role. Likewise Lando Calrissian. Yesterday came word of a Boba Fett film from the director of Logan.
These are all good ideas (or, in the case of Boba Fett, ideas, at least). I’d certainly love to know how a smuggler became the Baron Administrator of a flying city. But I’ve got a different proposal for the next spin-off: Senator General Princess Leia Amidala Skywalker Organa. Leia for short. (“General” is also acceptable.)
Star Wars The Courtship of Princess Leia
Paperback $9.99
Star Wars The Courtship of Princess Leia
In Stock Online
Paperback $9.99
In the now de-canonized Expanded Universe novels (aka “Legends”), Leia took Han’s last name and became Leia Organa Solo after their marriage in The Courtship of Princess Leia, which always struck me as rather conventional for such an unconventional couple. What’s more, Han was a smuggler from a troubled family with a decidedly un-heroic past. Leia, on the other hand, was royalty on two different worlds (Alderaan and Naboo). If names needed to change hands, Han Solo Organa always seemed the more appropriate formulation.
In the now de-canonized Expanded Universe novels (aka “Legends”), Leia took Han’s last name and became Leia Organa Solo after their marriage in The Courtship of Princess Leia, which always struck me as rather conventional for such an unconventional couple. What’s more, Han was a smuggler from a troubled family with a decidedly un-heroic past. Leia, on the other hand, was royalty on two different worlds (Alderaan and Naboo). If names needed to change hands, Han Solo Organa always seemed the more appropriate formulation.
As we meet Leia at the beginning of the original Star Wars, she is not yet 20, and already a diplomat, a galactic senator, a leader of the public opposition and a secret Rebellion. We’ve since learned that, even if she didn’t participate in the fight, she was on hand for the battle over Scarif (see: Rogue One) that could have easily been a slaughter. With incredible self-possession, she sets aside her personal safety as her ship is boarded by Darth Vader, buying time for a droid to escape with the Death Star plans, which are cleverly not in the main computer (Bail and Breha Organa didn’t raise no dummy).
Leia perseveres through torture, refusing to give up the location of the secret rebel base even when her world is threatened with destruction. And after all that, she doesn’t just agree to dive into a dianoga-infested trash compactor…it was all her idea. (For most of us, the fate of the Rebel Alliance would have been sealed right there.)
Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
Hardcover $17.99
Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
By Claudia Gray
Hardcover $17.99
Though we’re conditioned not to think too hard about how characters got the way they are, it’s hard not to wonder how (the hell) anyone, even a princess, racks up such an impressive range of credits and accomplishments at such a young age. In spite of that, there’s precious little to tell us, either in the Legends books, or the current canon of stories that dive into the years of Leia’s life prior to A New Hope—years that must have been crucial.
Though we’re conditioned not to think too hard about how characters got the way they are, it’s hard not to wonder how (the hell) anyone, even a princess, racks up such an impressive range of credits and accomplishments at such a young age. In spite of that, there’s precious little to tell us, either in the Legends books, or the current canon of stories that dive into the years of Leia’s life prior to A New Hope—years that must have been crucial.
It was only last year, in Claudia Gray’s Leia, Princess of Alderaan, that we got any real insight into the future general’s developing political consciousness and sense of self. In that novel, Leia begins her 16th year (placing us about three years before Star Wars) by preparing for her Day of Demand, a unique feature of the Alderaanian monarchy. The heir doesn’t get to assume the job of princess until completing three significant challenges, of mind, body, and heart. Being a princess is probably a bit less damaging when you have to work for it.
Along the way, she slowly uncovers her parents secret work to unseat Palpatine and disrupt the growing Empire, and ultimately comes to her own decisions about whether, and how best, to follow in their footsteps. Any part of the story (which also introduces Leia’s retroactive best friend and future Resistance Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo) would make for a pretty amazing movie, and one unlike any Star Wars movie we’ve yet seen—not just woman-led, but girl-centric, a coming-of-age story entirely unlike Luke Skywalker’s. It begins with the trappings of a typical princess narrative, then goes on to subvert almost all of them. It would also offer up our first significant look at Alderaan, and explore life in that planet’s royal court—presumably, as pretty a locale as we’ve yet seen in Star Wars.
Star Wars: Princess Leia
Paperback $16.99
Star Wars: Princess Leia
Text by
Mark Waid
Illustrator
Terry Dodson
Paperback $16.99
It needn’t be that particular book, though. There are a solid couple of years in between Leia’s coming-of-age and the start of A New Hope, and Star Wars has made much more of much less (the galaxy is full of stories; books, comics, and cartoons have managed to squeeze all kinds of adventures into the narrowest cracks in the filmed narrative).
It needn’t be that particular book, though. There are a solid couple of years in between Leia’s coming-of-age and the start of A New Hope, and Star Wars has made much more of much less (the galaxy is full of stories; books, comics, and cartoons have managed to squeeze all kinds of adventures into the narrowest cracks in the filmed narrative).
An appearance by Leia in the Rebels animated series hints at the fact that the princess didn’t take much time off, even as a kid. While running a relief mission to the planet Lothal on behalf of Alderaan’s famously charitable royal family, she managed to give the rebels there three much-needed ships—by offering them up to be stolen. Senator, rebel, queen-in-training: there’s more than enough unexplored territory in the life of Leia Organa. Probably more than for any other significant character in the saga. Luke Skywalker’s great and all, and there’s doubtless interesting material to be mined from the years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens (as suggested by Ken Liu’s The Legends of Luke Skywalker), not even the most obsessive fan wants to spend two hours on Tatooine watching Luke do chores and bulls-eye the occasional womp rat.
Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
Hardcover $17.99
Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
By
Alexandra Bracken
Illustrator
Iain McCaig
Hardcover $17.99
Casting would be a challenge. Perhaps an insurmountable one. But Harrison Ford is at least as indelible a screen presence as Carrie Fisher, each having achieved iconic status in their own ways. Yet still the powers-that-be decided enough time had passed, and that Alden Ehrenreich’s look, demeanor, and impressive array of screen credits would make a gamble worth it. Leia’s post-Return of the Jedi years—as a politician, mother, and eventual military leader would also make for a pretty good movie—would pose an even greater casting challenge, so let’s stick with the rich, and largely uncharted, teenage years.
Casting would be a challenge. Perhaps an insurmountable one. But Harrison Ford is at least as indelible a screen presence as Carrie Fisher, each having achieved iconic status in their own ways. Yet still the powers-that-be decided enough time had passed, and that Alden Ehrenreich’s look, demeanor, and impressive array of screen credits would make a gamble worth it. Leia’s post-Return of the Jedi years—as a politician, mother, and eventual military leader would also make for a pretty good movie—would pose an even greater casting challenge, so let’s stick with the rich, and largely uncharted, teenage years.
Does anyone have Kathleen Kennedy’s number at Lucasfilm? Let her know we’ve got a pitch for Leia: A Star Wars Story.
Whose Star Wars story do you want to see next?