Star Wars has officially released new details on The Mandalorian and Grogu movie's new storyline that's coming to the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run attraction at Disney Parks, but the involvement of the Falcon seems to imply that the famous freighter is no longer in Han Solo's possession. Smuggler's Run in its original and present incarnation sees guests at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge being hired as flight crew to operate the Millennium Falcon, but not for Han Solo. It's not even for Chewbacca.

In fact, guests are working for Hondo Ohnaka, the beloved space pirate we first met in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Because The Mandalorian and Grogu is now going to have a storyline that takes place in this very attraction, people are understandably confused about why Han isn't the one who's piloting the Falcon, much less loaning it out to randomly recruited flight crews. Does this mean Han Solo loses the Falcon at some point during The Mandalorian era?

Why Hondo Ohnaka Has The Millennium Falcon Explained

He's Struck A Temporary Deal With Chewbacca

The key part is to understand the basis of Smuggler's Run's original and current story, especially for those who may not have been fortunate enough to experience Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge for themselves yet. This theme park land is 100% immersive, taking place between the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This is about 20 years after the events of The Mandalorian in the Star Wars timeline, which proves just how much the lines are starting to blur in this immersive land.

Sadly, Han Solo is dead during the original timeline of Smuggler's Run, and Chewbacca is the one who now owns the Falcon. In the current Smuggler's Run storyline, Hondo Ohnaka is looking for a flight crew to assist him with a mission to steal coaxium from the First Order, and upon Chewie landing the Falcon in Black Spire Outpost on Batuu - where Hondo's company, Ohnaka Transport Solutions, is stationed - Hondo offers supplies for the Resistance in exchange for the use of the freighter.

Hence, the Falcon is never technically Hondo's. Rather, Hondo finds a way to barter with Chewie to use the Falcon temporarily on a single mission. This mission was created with the intent of connecting to the now-defunct Star Wars: Galactic Starcruisr, as the coaxium was a key part of the immersive storyline that carried through that resort's 48-hour experience. Now that the Starcruiser is closed, however, the storyline is shifting, but it cannot shift too much - not even for Han Solo.

Han Solo Could (& Most Likely Does) Still Have The Falcon At This Point

Even If He's Not Involved In The Attraction's New Storyline

It's reasonable to think that, with the new update to Smuggler's Run, Han could be looped into where Chewbacca currently is. There are certain elements that can change with this storyline and some that cannot. The ones that cannot have to do with Hondo being the one who assigns a flight crew to the Falcon, mostly because a custom Hondo animatronic was built for the attraction - and that cannot be easily adjusted. The ones that can, however, are where Han has his wiggle room to this story.

What may cast doubt upon the idea of Han Solo being involved in Smuggler's Run is that it would require a recast, which Star Wars seems hesitant to do for The Mandalorian era.

In fact, because Han most likely does still have the Falcon at this point, it's almost a necessity to make this change, unless Chewbacca happens to be taking the Falcon to Batuu on his own for a spell. The pre-show where Hondo's animatronic is sees the pirate speaking with Chewie, who appears on a screen in a pre-recorded video. This could potentially be substituted for Han if necessary, unless they want to continue having it as Chewbacca. Elements of the dialogue, however, will also have to change regardless.

How The Mandalorian Movie's Storyline Can Fit Into This Star Wars Attraction

Certain Changes Will Inevitably Have To Be Made

Staying in line with the changes mentioned above, The Mandalorian and Grogu can and obviously will find a way to fit, and there are a few different ways that I can see that happening. The pre-show dialogue will need to be different in some way, as the Resistance and the First Order, both of which are mentioned by Hondo to Chewbacca, are both nonexistent during The Mandalorian's timeline. Din Djarin and Grogu themselves will also likely have to be mentioned at some point before the actual ride.

Of course, I can see a way where those two aren't mentioned until they show up to assist on the actual ride, too. What's really key is simply making sure the timeline all adds up. It's going to prove an interesting challenge for the Imagineers, but I have full confidence they can pull it off. What will be curious is seeing how they do so, and if it ties Han Solo and the Falcon into the storyline of The Mandalorian and Grogu movie itself.