Star Wars is officially bringing back Han Solo and Leia Organa's twin children from the Star Wars Legends Expanded Universe: Jaina and Jacen Solo. Star Wars Legends, the franchise's Expanded Universe (EU), was the pre-2014 continuity that introduced storylines and characters extending far beyond the original and prequel trilogies. Following the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the EU chronicled the rebuilding of the galaxy and the fresh starts for Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. Jaina and Jacen Solo served as the two most significant additions to the next generation of the Skywalker-Solo family, becoming central figures in this expanded saga.
Hasbro unveiled the new Hasbro Pulse Exclusive The Black Series two-pack featuring the iconic twin children of Han and Leia from the EU, Jaina and Jacen Solo. The designs of both Star Wars characters are inspired by the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novels.
Jaina Solo is in her signature orange New Jedi Order-era pilot jumpsuit, aligning with her time as a Rogue Squadron pilot. She also has her purple lightsaber among her figure's accessories.
In the Expanded Universe, Jaina was portrayed as a hot-headed pilot and mechanic who eventually became one of the most accomplished Jedi of her era.
Jacen Solo makes his debut in the Hasbro Black Series line, shown in a green fightsuit with his iconic green lightsabers, which represent his Jedi Knight phase before his later fall to the Dark Side as Darth Caedus.
The figure is ripped right from the covers of Star Wars EU novels, perfectly matching his design.
The official packaging for the two-pack of Jacen and Jaina Solo features the Legends branding, making it clear that these figures are part of the Expanded Universe.
This exclusive new two-pack of Jacen and Jaina Solo action figures symbolizes a victory for Legends fans of the Star Wars franchise. Jaina and Jacen are among the most beloved characters from the EU, and these updated figures address years of demand for more representation in the non-canon continuity.
In the New Jedi Order era, the Yuuzhan Vong invasion was central to the conflict, leading to a galaxy-spanning war that nearly destroyed the New Republic. Jaina and Jacen Solo played pivotal roles in this story, emerging as key protagonists while enduring personal losses that shaped the rest of their lives.
Jaina Solo became one of the war's greatest symbols of resistance, earning the title "Sword of the Jedi" from Luke Skywalker and becoming a battle-hardened Jedi Knight. Meanwhile, Jacen Solo took a more complex path after he was tortured by the Vong, which altered his understanding of the Force. While he remained heroic in the final battle, the war left him scarred, a fact that later fueled his descent into the dark side.
Pre-orders for the new Hasbro Pulse Exclusive The Black Series two-pack are live on the Hasbro website.
Does Star Wars' Expanded Universe Have a Future at Lucasfilm?
Hasbro's announcement of The Black Series figures of Jaina and Jacen Solo serves as a strong indicator that the Expanded Universe still has commercial value and ongoing support from Lucasfilm and Star Wars fans.
A good chunk of Star Wars fans who grew up with the EU continuity feel that the non-canon stories offered richer continuations of the original trilogy characters, and the stories of Jaina and Jacen still resonate deeply.
Hasbro's willingness to invest in these two prominent characters signals that Lucasfilm is comfortable letting Legends coexist as an alternate timeline. If anything, these figures also serve as an introduction for the EU for the next generation.
The success of these figures could lead to more EU characters being added to the Hasbro line, such as Anakin Solo, a Mara Jade figure, and even Jacen as Darth Caedus. Many would agree that leaning into well-loved Legends stories would be a smart move, and this latest two-pack proved the EU isn't dead.
Star Wars' Expanded Universe still survives in some form at Lucasfilm, albeit in a blockier visual style. LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy has given the opportunity for previous characters in the galaxy far, far away to make a return to the small screen. This has included the appearance of Darth Revan, as well as a cameo from Luke Skywalker's former lover, Mara Jade.
With these characters making their way into lower-stakes projects like Rebuild the Galaxy, perhaps Lucasfilm will reconsider how these EU staples are handled and bring them back into the forefront.
