Greedo

Greedo, a character from the Star Wars universe, first appeared in the initial 1977 film, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. A green-skinned Rodian, Greedo was a bounty hunter hired by the notorious Jabba the Hutt. Rodians, a reptilian species from the planet Rodia, often feature distinctive suction-cup like fingers, antennas, and large round eyes. As a species, they were recognized for their superior prowess in tracking, making them well-suited for bounty hunting and related career paths.

The character is best known for a brief yet significant confrontation with one of the main protagonists, Han Solo, in the iconic Mos Eisley Cantina scene. Greedo corners Han at a table to make him settle a debt he owes to Jabba the Hutt. The ensuing conversation leads to a tense standoff in which Han and Greedo pull out their blasters. The outcome of the confrontation has since become a major point of contention among Star Wars fans.

The outcome of Han Solo and Greedo's confrontation has spurred significant debate among fans, with many arguing about who shot first. In the original 1977 theatrical version, Han shoots Greedo from under the table and kills him, underlining his rogue nature. However, in the 1997 Special Edition release of the film, the scene was controversially altered to show Greedo shooting first, with Han narrowly dodging the blast before retaliating. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, said he made the alteration to make Han appear less ruthless and in cold blood.

Fans of the original film were dismayed by the change, sparking the phrase "Han shot first" as a protest against the alteration. The scene has since been revised and altered multiple times in subsequent re-releases and remastered versions, with some tweaks attempting to make it seem like Han and Greedo shot at almost the same time.

Greedo's involvement in the Star Wars timeline extends beyond his short appearance in the original trilogy. He has been featured in various expanded universe materials, like comic books, novels, and video games - some of which are now part of the non-canonical "Star Wars Legends" material after Disney+ acquired the franchise in 2012. Greedo briefly appeared as a young Rodian in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the first of the prequel trilogy.

Despite Greedo's brief presence in the Star Wars movies, his character became an important figure in fan culture. Beyond the "Han shot first" debate, his distinctive appearance and the memorable Mos Eisley cantina scene have helped cement him as an unforgettable character in the Star Wars galaxy. Greedo represents the vast cast of unusual and imaginative characters that have helped make the Star Wars universe beloved by millions of fans around the world.