Han Solo’sclassicStar Warsblaster appeared on screen 10 years beforeA New Hopein a rather surprising place. As one of the three main heroes in the originalStar Warstrilogy, Han Solo is easily one ofStar Wars’best characters. His ‘bad boy’ personality worked perfectly opposite Luke Skywalker’s innocent optimism, and his chemistry and banter with Princess Leia are precisely why the couple is one ofStar Wars’best relationships.
Han Solo’sStar Warsquotesare also among the most iconic in the franchise, not only in the original trilogy but also in the sequels. For these reasons and so many more, Han Solo’s character is beloved in the franchise. Even in light of Han Solo’s significant popularity and importance toStar Warsmovies and TV shows, though, not everything about this character is well-known. As just one easy-to-miss example,Han Solo’s blaster from the originalStar Warstrilogy had already appeared on screen, 10 years earlier.
Star Wars Actually Reused A Prop With Han Solo’s Blaster
Han Solo’s blaster has a history pre-dating theStar Warsfranchise by several years. According toTested.com, Bapty & Co., or simply Bapty, was the UK-based armorer who provided weapons for bothA New HopeandThe Empire Strikes Back. The same company had also worked on a 1967 Frank Sinatra movie,The Naked Runner. It was evidently in this movie, a decade before theStar Warsfranchise began withA New Hope, that the blaster debuted.
It was evidently in this movie, a decade before theStar Warsfranchise began withA New Hope, that the blaster debuted.
InThe Naked Runner, Sinatra’s character is a World War II veteran who carries a Mauser C96, which is a semi-automatic pistol with German origins. With some eagle-eyed sleuthing (and screengrabs),Star Warsfans were able to verify that this gun is the very same blaster Han has inA New Hope. There were alterations made—which makes sense given the very different contexts of the movies—but this was indeed the prop that ultimately became Han Solo’s iconic blaster.
It’s Easy To Miss, But Han’s Blaster Actually Changed In Each Movie
The history of Han Solo’s blaster is even more complex than this connection reveals, given thatHan’s blaster changed throughout the original trilogy movies. The gun that appeared inThe Naked Runnerwasn’t consistently used inA New Hope; it was reserved for close-ups and promotional materials, likely because its unique design was undeniably cool but not necessary for all scenes. Because of the alterations, the blaster proved quite heavy, which would have made the prop unnecessarily cumbersome in scenes when its details weren’t all that visible anyway.
10 Things You (Maybe) Didn’t Know About Han Solo
Han Solo had some pretty iconic contributions to the Star Wars franchise, but there are many interesting facts about him that the movies don’t share!
In place of that prop, there was a lightweight model of the blaster made specifically for stunts.The Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedialso saw updates to Han’s blaster, with the version inReturn of the Jedidelightfully called the “Bizarro Blaster” by some because the scope was facing the wrong direction. BringingHan Solo’sclassic blaster to the screen was evidently no simple process, but that has only made this little-knownStar Warshistory all the more interesting.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Cast
Star Wars is a seminal science fiction film released in 1977 that follows the quest of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo to rescue Princess Leia from the oppressive Imperial forces. They are aided by the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, as they strive to restore peace to the galaxy.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.
