Han shot first



"Han shot first" is a phrase in Star Wars fandom that refers to a highly controversial change made to a scene in Episode IV: A New Hope. The scene involves the characters Han Solo and Greedo at the Mos Eisley Cantina, where Greedo has come to collect the bounty on Solo. During their conversation, Greedo keeps his blaster aimed at Solo, who sneakily works his hand down to his own blaster.

In the original theatrical version of the film, Solo proceeds to shoot Greedo from under the table. Greedo dies without firing a shot. In the 1997 Special Edition version, the scene was edited to add Greedo shooting at Solo but missing (at point-blank range), followed by the original Solo shot (which now seems to be in retaliation). Thus, the phrase "Han shot first" is a retort to director George Lucas' explicit assertion that "Greedo shot first."

Explanation
George Lucas explained the change by stating that he wanted to make clear to children that Han had "no choice" but to shoot Greedo. This justification was unsatisfactory to many long-time and adult fans of the series. The ire of some fans led to an online petition demanding that the changes be retracted. The primary objection to the revision is that it waters down Han's initially morally ambiguous character, thereby making his later transition from anti-hero to hero less meaningful. The plausibility of Greedo missing from such a short distance is also considered questionable, and criticized as being depicted in an awkwardly facile manner.

Since the Special Editions, there have been two DVD releases. In the 2004 DVD release, the disputed scene was altered again. In this version, Greedo still shoots before Solo does, and he still misses at point-blank range, but the timing is altered (so the shots are fired at almost the same time) and Solo "dodges" the shot (by digitally leaning him to the side).

The 2006 DVD had two versions — the 2004 changes and the original theatrical version. The theatrical version features no changes, including Han Solo shooting without Greedo firing a shot. When announcing the dual-version DVDs, Lucasfilm made note of the fact that the scene was included by saying: "...and yes, [viewers] see Han Solo shoot first."

Recognition


In July 2007, Lucas was observed wearing a T-shirt with the words "Han shot first" on the set of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and other events. In Aaron Allston's 2006 Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novel Betrayal, Leia says the line, "He's fine. Han shot first." Coincidentally, long before the Special Edition edit and the ensuing controversy, Han himself said "I happen to like to shoot first" in Brian Daley's 1979 novel Han Solo at Stars' End, following the line up with "As opposed to shooting second."

In popular culture

 * In the 2001 movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Holden McNeil (played by Ben Affleck) refers to the creation of a Jay and Silent Bob movie as "The worst idea since Greedo shooting first."