Star Wars: Celebrating the ladies in a galaxy far far away

Star Wars isn’t known for its female characters but mostly for its male. It’s time to look at some of the most iconic ones who changed the franchise.

Solo follows a young Han Solo as we watch him become the man we know. The film is supposed to focus on Han, but attention has moved elsewhere. Mostly to Donald Glover as Lando, but also to Emilia Clarke’s character, Qi’ra. We know almost nothing about her, but she has been featured prominently in posters, trailers and clips.

In a franchise usually devoid of women, it proves how strong the fandom is. Originally, all we had was Princess Leia and she is wonderful. She was tough, sassy and smart along with being the first woman to head the franchise. We all came to know and love her as many of us still do today.

For years, all we had was Leia until we were introduced to Padmé Amidala. Despite the lackluster portrayal, she was an important character. We finally got some much-needed backstory into her and Anakin’s relationship including the birth of Luke and Leia.

Now, it’s commonplace to see a woman as the face of a Star Wars franchise. With Daisy Ridley as Rey, we have exactly that. Instead of her being a side character, she is the main character and has a compelling storyline. Throughout the past two films, we’ve watched her fight, struggle and come out on top.

More from Movies

• The story of a French emperor: Here’s where Napoleon will stream after theaters
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes honors its origins and far surpasses them
• Thanksgiving movie death toll: Why [SPOILER] is still alive
• No, Thanksgiving is not streaming yet (But here’s where it’ll land)
• Trolls Band Together soundtrack guide: Which songs play in the movie?

Rey isn’t the only female character, though. In The Force Awakens, we met Maz Kanata and Captain Phasma. The two might not be main characters but play an important role. As for The Last Jedi, Vice Admiral Holdo and Rose Tico are introduced. Not only is Tico another female face but also the first Asian-American actor in any film.

Since releasing in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has changed immensely and for good reason. It has gone from being a boy’s world to featuring women prominently. Rogue One also features a female lead and with the upcoming release of Solo, Emilia Clarke has a prominent role.

The inclusion of more women isn’t singular to the films, though. An animated series, Star Wars: Forces of Destiny focuses on all the women of the franchise. From Rey to Leia to Ahsoka, there is someone for everyone. The show is also marketed to young girls, bucking the tradition of Star Wars as a gender-specific market.

Next: Star Wars: Is it time for older fans to move on and let go?

Yes, Star Wars still has some work to do. Their female characters aren’t perfect, but they have come a long way. None of us imagined a woman as the head of a franchise, but it happened. Leia was just a small step, but it’s come full circle.

Hopefully, this trend continues with other future films and projects. Finally, women are ruling the galaxy and deservedly so.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is in theaters this Friday, May 18.