'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Director Reveals How Han Solo's Death Will Affect The Movie

by Diane Samson / Aug 18, 2017 01:56 PM EDT

The legacy of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) will live on in the "Star War" franchise. Despite the beloved character's death in the 2015 blockbuster movie, "The Force Awakens," director Rian Johnson confirms that the space smuggler will still be a major part of "The Last Jedi."

To recall, Ford's Han met his untimely death in the attempt to save his son, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), from Snoke and the Dark Side of the Force. While Han is, indeed, dead and will not appear in Episode VIII, his presence will continue to be felt in the "Star Wars" franchise.

This, Johnson confirms in an interview with EW. The renowned filmmaker shared a few key details about the next "Star Wars" movie, including how Han will be a part of the movie despite the character's death.

"Han, the ghost of - well, not literally," the "The Last Jedi director shares before cutting himself. "I don't want to misguide. I have to be very careful with my words here."

While characters regularly come back from the dead in the "Star Wars" universe, the fan-favorite is unlikely to return in the upcoming movie. Han is not a Jedi and, therefore, could not come back as a Force Ghost like Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) or Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Ford also has not signed up to appear in the upcoming movie.

That said, the "figurative ghost" of Han will haunt "Star Wars: The Last Jedi. For one, Johnson also says that the death of the character will be a major driving force in the conflict between Kyle and Rey (Daisy Ridley).

Last year, Carrie Fisher (General Leia Organa) has let it slipped (via Slash Film) that Episode VIII might feature a funeral for Han. Based on the first trailer released by Disney, "The Last Jedi" picks up moments after "The Force Awakens." Having the funeral to say good bye to a beloved character could help give closure to his long and epic story.

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will also star John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Laura Dern, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Billie Lourd, Lupita Nyong'o and Mark Hamill. The movie will be released on Dec. 15.