Han & Leia's Wedding Invitations Are Causing Another 'Star Wars' Controversy

It seems “Star Wars” tried to send some Valentine's Day love to its fans in a galaxy far, far away.

Although there have been a few star-crossed and controversial romances in the history of the series, the relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, played by Harrison Ford and the late Carrie Fisher, was considered to be one of the greatest romances in movie history.

Although their marriage seemed to have dissolved by the time 2015’s “The Force Awakens” sequel trilogy reboot rolled around, the classic “I love you / I know,” line from the original trilogy has made its mark in pop culture.

Since Disney can’t take their love story forward, they’ve decided to rewind time and send out invitations to Han Solo and Leia Organa’s wedding.

On Valentine’s Day, the official “Star Wars” account promoted the news, tweeting, “You’re invited to Han and Leia’s wedding in the upcoming novel, Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel.”

However, many fans weren’t exactly happy with the announcement because there already was a book called “The Courtship of Princess Leia” that came out in 1994 – decades before George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012. The books are now set in the expanded universe, which means that they are no longer considered canon, and elements of old books and comics might contradict things that appear in Disney “Star Wars” properties (like the entire sequel trilogy, for example).

The book was written by author Dave Wolverton and was set in 8 ABY – four years after the events of “Return of the Jedi.” Putting it in the current canon timeline, it would happen just before the events of “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” In the book, Princess Leia is trying to find powerful allies to help fund the Alliance. Although Darth Vader and the Emperor are dead, the Empire lives on and the struggle continues.

When the Queen Mother of a cluster of high-tech worlds wants Leia to marry her son, Prince Isolder, to secure an alliance of their own, Han gets nervous, grabs Leia, and runs away to Dathomir (yes – Dathomir!) Leia’s brother, Luke Skywalker, teams up with Prince Isolder to track Han and Leia down, where they run into Force-sensitive “witches.” The witches of Dathomir and the Nightsisters have already made an appearance in the current canon in “The Clone Wars” animated series.

Many fans decided to stick to the 1994 novel. Unfortunately, Dave Wolverton (whose pen name was also Dave Farland) passed away last month in January 2022, so he never got a chance to see fans defending his work.

“Wow. You guys barely waited a full month after Dave Farland/Dave Wolverton died to cash in and rehash his most famous contribution to Star Wars,” one fan wrote. “You know, after refusing to credit him for creating Dathomir and the Nightsisters for years.”

“Sorry but sticking to the REAL wedding,” another wrote, sharing a photo of the cover of Wolverton’s book.

“I have read ‘The Courtship of Princess Leia,’” another shared. “It’s a shame that Disney erased the whole history of Star Wars.”

Other fans criticized that it was a marketing tactic for their newest Galaxy’s Edge attraction. On the “Star Wars” website, a forward at the beginning of a promotional interview for the book says, “After a ceremony at the site of the victory celebration at the end of the film, the newlyweds depart for a honeymoon aboard the Halcyon starcruiser, the luxury vessel at the heart of the new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience at Disney World Resort.”

Many fans aren’t exactly happy with the synopsis of the new book (written by Beth Revis) and have called out how unlikely it would be for Leia to drop everything for the Rebellion just to take a honeymoon when the galaxy needs her the most. Of course, this is just the synopsis, and there may be more to the story than meets the eye.

Fans can read the synopsis for the book below:

“The Death Star is destroyed. Darth Vader is dead. The Empire is desolated. But on the forest moon of Endor, amongst the chaos of a changing galaxy, time stands still for a princess and her scoundrel.

After being frozen in carbonite, then risking everything for the Rebellion, Han is eager to stop living his life for other people. He and Leia have earned their future together, a thousand times over. And when he proposes to Leia, it’s the first time in a long time he’s had a good feeling about this. For Leia, a lifetime of fighting doesn’t truly seem over. There is work still to do, penance to pay for the dark secret she now knows runs through her veins. Her brother, Luke, is offering her that chance—one that comes with family and the promise of the Force. But when Han asks her to marry him, Leia finds her answer immediately on her lips . . . Yes.

But happily ever after doesn’t come easily. As soon as Han and Leia depart their idyllic ceremony on Endor for their honeymoon, they find themselves on the grandest and most glamorous stage of all: the Halcyon, a luxury vessel on a very public journey to the most wondrous worlds in the galaxy. Their marriage, and the peace and prosperity it represents, is a lightning rod for everyone in the galaxy—including Imperial remnants still clinging to power.

Facing their most desperate hour, the soldiers of the Empire have dispersed across the galaxy, retrenching on isolated worlds vulnerable to their influence. As the Halcyon travels from world to world, one thing becomes abundantly clear: The war is not over. But as danger draws closer, Han and Leia find that they fight their best battles not alone but as husband and wife.”