When it comes to expanding the Star Wars universe, Solo: A Star Wars Story primarily does so with small details, such as explaining the origins of the Millennium Falcon’s navigational computer or showing the true origins of the Rebel Alliance. However, there’s one shocking twist near the end that connects the latest Star Wars prequel to the one that started it all — 1999’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace — that may actually leave some viewers scratching their heads in puzzlement.
Warning: SPOILERS for Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars Rebels below.
If you’ve seen the film, then you know that the one and only Darth Maul makes his return as the shadowy leader behind the Crimson Dawn criminal empire that Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) belongs to. Of course, the last time we saw Maul, he had just been sliced in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi and seemingly killed at the end of The Phantom Menace, so how and why is he making his return now? Could it have something to do with Disney’s plans for a Obi-Wan spinoff movie?
Well, strap yourself in because this cameo requires quite a bit of explanation.
Lucasfilm