The phrase "Who shot first?" refers to a famous and controversial scene in the original 1977 Star Wars film (Episode IV: A New Hope) where Han Solo is confronted by the bounty hunter Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina. In the original theatrical release, Han Solo shoots Greedo first, killing him without Greedo firing a shot. This established Han as a morally ambiguous character willing to act preemptively
. However, in the 1997 Special Edition re-release, director George Lucas altered the scene so that Greedo shoots at Han first and misses, and then Han returns fire. This change was intended to make Han's actions appear more as self-defense rather than a cold-blooded killing, aligning with Lucas's vision of Han as a heroic figure rather than a ruthless killer
. Subsequent releases further tweaked the timing of the shots, sometimes showing them almost simultaneously, but the original version clearly had Han shooting first. The change sparked significant debate and backlash among fans, many of whom prefer the original portrayal of Han Solo as someone who "shot first" to survive in a dangerous galaxy
. In summary:
- Original 1977 version: Han Solo shoots first, killing Greedo.
- 1997 Special Edition and later: Greedo shoots first and misses; Han shoots second.
- Fan consensus: "Han shot first" remains a popular phrase defending the original scene and Han's characterization.
George Lucas explained his rationale as making Han more of a mythological hero who shoots only in self-defense, but many fans and even actors involved have expressed preference for the original version
. Therefore, the answer to "Who shot first?" is that in the original film, Han Solo shot first. The later edits changed this, but the original intent and fan-favorite version has Han shooting first
