• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

George Lucas explains why Greedo shoots first in Star Wars

November 30, 2015 by Gary Collinson

It’s a question that fans have been asking ever since the Special Edition release of Star Wars in 1997: why oh why did George Lucas decide to have Greedo shooting first during the bounty hunter’s confrontation with Han Solo in the Mos Eisley cantina? Well, speaking to the Washington Post, Lucas has explained that he felt the way the scene originally plays out went against Han’s principles:

“Han Solo was going to marry Leia, and you look back and say, ‘Should he be a cold-blooded killer?’ Because I was thinking mythologically — should he be a cowboy, should he be John Wayne? And I said, ‘Yeah, he should be John Wayne.’ And when you’re John Wayne, you don’t shoot people [first] — you let them have the first shot. It’s a mythological reality that we hope our society pays attention to.”

SEE ALSO: George Lucas on Star Wars: The Force Awakens straying from his original vision for the Sequel Trilogy

You can (kind of) see Lucas’ thinking here, but if Han already has such principles, doesn’t that detract from his character progression through the films? And how is it acceptable for him to shoot first at Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=G9WslvpHLAo

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News Tagged With: George Lucas, Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is a film, TV and digital content producer and writer, who is the founder of the pop culture website Flickering Myth and producer of the gothic horror feature film 'The Baby in the Basket' and the upcoming suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines'.

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Forgotten Horror Movie Sequels You Never Need to See

Great Movies That Are An Absolute Masterclass in Acting

8 Great Recent Films You Really Need To See

The Rise and Disappointing Disappearance of Director Richard Kelly

8 Essential Feel-Good British Underdog Movies

Forgotten 90s Action Movies That Deserve a Second Chance

The Bourne Difference: The Major Book vs Movie Changes

The Essential Movies About Memory

The Bonkers Comedies of Andrew McCarthy

The 10 Best Villains in Sylvester Stallone Movies

Top Stories:

8 Great Cult Sci-Fi Films from 1985

Marvel’s Black Panther spinoff Eyes of Wakanda gets a first teaser trailer

Movie Review – Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Movie Review – 40 Acres (2025)

4K Ultra HD Review – James Bond: The Sean Connery Collection

7 Mad Movie Doctors Who Deserve More Recognition

4K Ultra HD Review – Dark City (1998)

Movie Review – Heads of State (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

10 Essential Home Invasion Horror Movies

Lock, Stock and The Essential Guy Ritchie Movies

A Better Tomorrow: Why Superman & Lois is among the best representations of the Man of Steel

The Contemporary Queens of Action Cinema

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket