Summary
- Han Solo's age can be determined for every Star Wars movie using the official timeline centered around the Battle of Yavin.
- In Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han Solo is 19 years old at the beginning and 22 years old for the rest of the film.
- Han Solo is 32 in A New Hope, 35 in The Empire Strikes Back, 36 in Return of the Jedi, and 66 in The Force Awakens.
Star Wars characters after several decades, but his numerous film appearances bring his age across the franchise into question. The Star Wars movies take place over 67 years in-universe, and the number of time jumps between films may make it challenging to track Han's age at any point in the timeline. It doesn't help that the year of Han's birth and how long he lived were different in the Star Wars Legends continuity, potentially throwing off those more familiar with the books and comics.
Thankfully, there is a definitive answer for Han's age for every Star Wars movie. The official Star Wars timeline is centered around the Battle of Yavin in the original Star Wars film, A New Hope, with years labeled as BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After the Battle of Yavin). The time that es in each Star Wars trilogy makes it easy to track how old Han Solo is in every Star Wars movie.
Han Solo Was Born In 32 BBY
Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #2
Han was born on the shipbuilding world of Corellia in 32 BBY, the same year as the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. His father was a man named Ovan, who built ships for the Corellian Engineering Corporation before he was laid off. Ovan later abandoned Han and eventually died in 24 BBY, leaving a young Han to fend for himself on the rough streets of Corellia.
In the Star Wars Legends continuity, Han Solo was born in 29 BBY, which would have made him the same age in A New Hope as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
How Old Han Solo Was In Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story Poster
Han Solo Was 19 At The Beginning Of Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story begins in 13 BBY, making Han 19 years old during the film's opening. This is the same age as Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa in A New Hope and Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, creating a nice parallel between the main heroes of the Star Wars saga. Set six years after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the Empire had a firm grip on Corellia and its shipbuilding operations, forcing much of the planet's populace into poverty. Han and Qi'ra attempted to flee Corellia together, but only Han made it out, ing the Empire as a means to become a pilot.
Anakin Skywalker was also 19 years old at the start of the Clone Wars in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.
Han Solo Was 22 For The Rest Of Solo: A Star Wars Story
After Han s the Empire, Solo has a three-year time skip, setting the rest of the movie in 10 BBY and making Han 22 years old. Han abandoned the Empire and went on his first adventure as a smuggler, making several connections that would define him in the original Star Wars trilogy. The film ends with Han winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian and going to meet a "bigshot gangster" on Tatooine.
How Old Han Solo Was In The Star Wars Original Trilogy
The Star Wars Original Trilogy
Han Solo Was 32 In A New Hope
The first Star Wars film is set in 0 BBY, making Han 32 years old. This reflects Han Solo actor Harrison Ford's actual age at the time of filming, unlike most of Han's other appearances. A New Hope saw Han begin his hero's journey that would continue throughout the original trilogy.
Han Solo Was 35 In The Empire Strikes Back
Set three years after A New Hope in 3 ABY, Han was 35 in The Empire Strikes Back. Ford also aged three years between films, making his age align with Han's once again. This would be the last Star Wars movie where Han's character and actor were the same age.
Han Solo Was 36 In Return Of The Jedi
Return of the Jedi takes place one year after The Empire Strikes Back in 4 ABY, making Han 36 years old for his final appearance in the original Star Wars trilogy. Due to the three-year gap between films, Ford would have been 38 on set, making the actor slightly older than the character. Even so, Ford's age and Han's time frozen in carbonite didn't take away the character's charisma or resolve as he fought with his friends to defeat the Empire.
How Old Han Solo Was In Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens picks up 30 years after Return of the Jedi in 34 BBY, making Han 66 years old for his final adventure. This also makes Han's age an unintentional reference to Order 66, the command issued by Emperor Palpatine for the clones to destroy the Jedi Knights. The 32-year gap between the original and sequel trilogies meant Ford would have been 70 years old when The Force Awakens was filmed. However, he never lost his charm, quick thinking, or accuracy with a blaster, exemplifying everything audiences loved about Han Solo for his last onscreen appearance in Star Wars.
