Movies

The Real Reason Han Solo Never Paid Back Jabba the Hutt in Star Wars

BBG News

Initially, Han Solo’s involvement with the Rebel Alliance in “Episode IV – A New Hope” was far from selfless. He was indebted to Jabba the Hutt due to a dumped shipment of spice and the threat of the Empire. To escape this predicament, he joined Luke Skywalker’s quest to save Princess Leia Organa, not out of loyalty but because Obi-Wan Kenobi offered him a 17,000 credit reward, sufficient for his debt settlement. Despite this, the Rebels later honored their promise by paying Han and awarding him for his bravery during the Battle of Yavin. However, it was disclosed in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” that Han had not settled his debt with Jabba over the three years between movies.

In the opening scenes of “The Empire Strikes Back”, Han initially intended to settle an old debt with Jabba by leaving Hoth, but the discovery of Echo Base necessitated a hasty escape alongside Leia instead. Unfortunately, Han’s delay in addressing this obligation led to disastrous consequences later in the movie when Boba Fett apprehended him, leading to his delivery to Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine. Contrary to popular belief, Han wasn’t too preoccupied with assisting the Rebels or frivolously spending his credits; instead, an unexpected obstacle prevented him from fulfilling his promise to Jabba before the events of “The Empire Strikes Back”. This revelation was confirmed in a canon comic book.

Luke Skywalker Convinced Han Solo to Keep Helping the Rebel Alliance

2019 saw Marvel Comics releasing a series of canon comics titled “Star Wars: Age of Rebellion“. Each comic centered around a character from the original trilogy timeframe. The fourth issue centered on Han, revealing his actions after the events of “A New Hope“. With Chewbacca, Han was bound for Tatooine to settle debts with Jabba, and they intended to spend any remaining funds on a new purchase. Just before their departure, Luke asked for a favor. The Rebels had crucial medicine that needed delivery to a covert outpost on Calumdarian, and Luke believed Han, with his smuggling background, would be ideal for the task. Though reluctant to continue assisting the Rebellion, especially without payment, Chewbacca managed to convince Han by reminding him of the lives at risk.

En route to Calumdarian, they encountered some familiar faces – a band of smugglers headed by Akko. Upon discovering that Han possessed Rebel intelligence, which would make him privy to any remaining Imperial surveillance schedules, Akko proposed a deal to his old buddy: 4,000 credits in exchange for helping transport spice to Troiken. Despite having recently received a substantial reward, Han’s avarice overcame him, leading him to accept the offer. The operation went smoothly, but Akko’s crew became excessively boisterous and attracted Imperial attention. While Han and Chewbacca managed to flee aboard the Millennium Falcon, the rest of the gang were apprehended by stormtroopers. Plagued with guilt over leaving them behind, Han later returned to save his cohorts in crime. After hiding Luke’s provisions in a woodland area, he ventured back to free his fellow smugglers.

Han Solo’s Character Arc Was Not Finished After A New Hope

To everyone’s surprise, Han Solo did what seemed unfitting for him, releasing Akko and their gang in exchange for the profits from their smuggled spice. Despite his probable reluctance, Han reluctantly handed over 4,000 credits to secure their freedom. Following their departure, Han returned to recover his hidden supplies, only to find that they had been seized by some local aliens who demanded a hefty ransom of 17,000 credits for their return. This mishap left Han penniless once more, but he still managed to deliver the goods to Calumdarian. There, the Rebels drafted him into another assignment. Regardless of his denial, it was becoming increasingly clear that Han was entangled in the Rebellion’s cause.

In this tale, it’s clear that Han’s character didn’t undergo a total transformation following the events of “A New Hope.” While he demonstrated less self-centeredness, such as bravely risking his life in the Battle of Yavin despite no guarantee of reward, he remained essentially a rogue at his core. His love for credits often clouded his judgment, leading to him losing everything due to it. “A New Hope” marked the beginning of Han’s character evolution, a process that would continue throughout the original trilogy. The expanded “Star Wars” lore presents a more straightforward reason for Han’s unpaid debt to Jabba. On their journey to Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon was ambushed by a pirate named Crimson Jack, who stole the 17,000 credits. Although Crimson Jack is also present in the current canon and appeared in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” he was not responsible for Han’s ongoing debt to Jabba.

Read More

2025-05-27 06:43

Previous post Heidi Klum’s Son Stuns on AMAs Red Carpet, Towering Over Her in Rare Appearance!
Next post BLACKPINK Announces Asia Dates of “WORLD TOUR “