Emilia Clark Has Pages Full Of Adventures That Qi'ra Had Behind The Scenes
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a film that did not do so well at the box office but seemed to set up threads to be continued later on. Viewers who saw it in the theater and much later on via home video or streaming have expressed that it was a fun movie and that they would like a proper sequel, hence the #MakeSolo2Happen campaign. Co-writer Jonathan Kasdan himself has said that the end of the film was the end of Act 2 of Han and Qi'ra, and that Act 3 had yet to play out.
These week, The Hollywood Reporter published an interview with Qi'ra's actress Emilia Clarke. The interviewer posited a theory that, wanting to aid a rebellion that could free her, Qi'ra may have tipped off Enfys Nest and her gang about the train heist, not knowing yet that Han was involved with Tobias Beckett and his crew at that point, and that upon seeing Han, Qi'ra realizes that the hunt for coaxium has to be successful. Clarke's reaction was the following:
"Oh my goodness! That’s a really, really juicy one. I wrote pages about Qi’ra — behind-the-scenes Qi’ra — and all of the other stuff that was going on. But I think it is only when she sees Han that she realizes that there is a way out. That’s what I was playing. That’s definitely where I was at. I don’t think she felt herself to be strong enough at that point to go on and escape Dryden’s grip. I think that Han is the slap around the face that made her go, “(Gasps.) I was a whole person. I was this other thing. Where have the last 3 years gone?” So it was that kind of thing, but I think your theory is very good. (Laughs.)"
So it seems that the intention was that Qi'ra does not actively try to free herself until Han comes back into her life. Clarke was also asked whether Qi'ra's decision to leave Han was one that she made prior to the transmission from Maul, as opposed to a decision she felt cornered into after talking to him.
"100 percent. She had to have a plan before, you know what I mean? She had to go into that situation with her own agenda and with her own plan, that the audience then catches up with after the fact."
It is worth noting that the novelization for the film includes a conversation where Qi'ra and L3-37 talk about the type of servitude they each have to do. The conversation seems to partially motivate Qi'ra to get to a higher place.
The interviewer expressed hopes to see Emilia Clarke reprise her role as Qi'ra in a Star Wars project on Disney+ somewhere along the way, saying that the character just has too much potential to ignore. Clarke's response:
"Oh, I know, and I agree. I really had pages about what her life was and what it would be afterwards. But I’m afraid I’ve heard nothing of [Disney+] being the case, so maybe I’ll just write it and send it to them. I’ll be like, “Hey guys, I’ve got a few ideas.” (Laughs.)"
Some fans were hoping that Qi'ra could perhaps make an appearance on The Book of Boba Fett, which recently wrapped filming. But these comments seem to negate that possibility, at least for this first season. If there ends up being a subsequent season, who knows what could happen?
Whatever ideas Emilia Clarke may have for the future of her character, it is possible that they may not completely line up with the direction in which the franchise is currently taking Qi'ra. Weeks ago, Qi'ra made a surprise appearance in War of the Bounty Hunters #1. In this crossover event involving the current Marvel series titled Star Wars, Darth Vader, Bounty Hunters, and Doctor Aphra, Qi'ra and Crimson Dawn have made a resurgence and stolen the frozen Han Solo from Boba Fett, as they are now set on selling him to the highest bidder in order to amass more power. The fact that Lucasfilm is allowing Marvel to tell this story seems to cast any chance of a Solo 2 into doubt. For now, the comics are where Qi'ra's story lies.
Source(s): The Hollywood Reporter