The good news for people who want to know more about the events that took place prior to Star Wars: The Force Awakens is that Disney is releasing a ton of content, from novels to comic books to mini Lego movies. Those little Lego-driven movies were announced in February, and they're part of a series called Lego Star Wars: The Resistance Rises. While technically canon, they also play fast and loose with the comedy, with scenes and interactions that would never actually take place in one of the live-action movies.
Ya know, for kids!
The first short, Poe to the Rescue, tracked pilot Poe Dameron, C-3PO and BB-8 on a daring mission to rescue Admiral Ackbar from the First Order and Captain Phasma. The subsequent two shorts just debuted via Toys "R" Us (hat tip Slashfilm), and while they're very, very heavy on the gags, they do feature the first appearance of Lando Calrissian in the post-Return of the Jedi world.
Here is that short first, titled Hunting for Han.
The premise:
At the castle of pirate MAZ KANATA (the gathering spot for A-list Scum and Villainy across the galaxy) Maz prepares to trade with scurvy pirate BALA TIK. Bala Tik’s demands that Maz reveal the location of Han Solo, whom Bala Tik accuses of cheating him out of his Rathtars. As it happens, every unsavory character there has a beef with Han, and soon the Han haters erupt in a brawl that stops when a mysterious OLD COOT sends the angry Scum on a wild goose chase after Han.
Nice to see Lando show up again, and knowing they're using his character not just in Star Wars Rebels, but also in these shorts, means chances are likely we'll see Billy Dee back in the role in one of these upcoming movies.
The next short is titled The Trouble with Rathtars.
The premise:
HAN SOLO and CHEWBACCA have their hands full with a pack of misbehaving Rathtars as they attempt to transport their carnivorous cargo to a rendezvous with Bala Tik the pirate. Things go from bad to worse when First Order TIE Fighters pull the freighter over, forcing Han to think quick and somehow save his skin from the First Order and the rampaging creatures.
Yes, we know -- in the movie, Chewbacca isn't reading the Rathtar bedtime stories and caressing them to sleep. But if you're jonesing for more story -- or at least more setup for The Force Awakens -- then this should scratch part of that itch.
And for those who haven't seen the first short yet, here it is. Titled Poe to the Rescue.
