Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to shed a light on everyone’s favorite smuggler, but we are also going to be introduced to new characters that helped shape Han Solo into the lovable rogue we all know. One character we’ll be meeting is Qi’ra, played by Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke. But, what do we already know about her? And why don’t we hear anything about her and Han’s relationship in later Star Wars stories?
Let’s take a look at this enigmatic character.
Keeping the Galaxy Stylish
At first glance, it’s pretty clear that Qi’ra isn’t some petty beggar. We see her in a number of exorbitant outfits throughout the various trailers and TV spots. And we also see her acting as a socialite during some kind of party. So, it’s safe to say that she’s not a member of the underclass.
It’s probable that she has made a good living as a smuggler or through some other criminal enterprise. If Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to really show us our best look at the illegal world of Star Wars, it’s safe to assume that Qi’ra is a high-ranking (or at least very successful) member of the underworld. And that means keeping up a certain standard of appearance.
Childhood Friends
We do know that Qi’ra and Han aren’t going to be total strangers when the story of Solo: A Star Wars Story takes place. In the novel Most Wanted, we discover that Han and Qi’ra grew up together on the planet Corellia. They make a living however they can on the dangerous city streets. And although they have a friendship, it doesn’t seem like that will get in the way of doing business.
Most Wanted revolves around Han and Qi’ra being tasked with performing a job for some crime boss. However, they aren’t working together but competing for the reward. Of course, something goes wrong and it forces the two to cooperate in order to survive a wide array of enemies.
How much of that we’ll see in Solo: A Star Wars Story remains to be seen. Still, you can bet that this friendship is going to come into play with the bigger plot of the film. And it might be why we don’t hear Han talk about Qi’ra.
Betrayal
It seems like Qi’ra will have her own goals and desires when it comes to the big mission that Han and the gang are attempting to pull off. From what we know, Qi’ra is still heavily involved in the criminal underworld when the plot of Solo: A Star Wars Story kicks off. Exactly why she needs Han’s help is unclear but we have a pretty good feeling that she’s not going to be 100% honest with him.
It’s likely that she is manipulating Han for her own motivations. Emilia Clarke has said that Qi’ra is fighting to stay alive, and it might be that she takes advantage of Han and their childhood friendship in order to survive the harsh world that she has become entangled in.
Or, does something worse happen to Qi’ra?
Death
As we saw with Rogue One, these new anthology films aren’t afraid to kill off their cast. Could Qi’ra fall victim to such a demise? And could her death be one of the defining moments in Han’s life?
It’s not difficult to infer that Han and Qi’ra might have some romantic feelings for each other. In fact, Qi’ra might be counting on that in order to utilize Han for her own devices. So, could we see love blossom between the two only to have it cut down by both betrayal and a tragic demise? Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Han is so jaded when we meet him in A New Hope.
No matter what, it’s safe to say that Qi’ra is going to play a vital role in the Star Wars universe. How exactly how that will play out and what it will mean for Han? We’ll find out everything when Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on May 24 in the UK and Australia, May 25 in the US.
