Darth Vader is the iconic villain at the heart of the Star Wars franchise; the prequel trilogy recounts his fall to the dark side of the Force, the original trilogy follows his children as they fight the Empire and (unknowingly) their father, and even The Force Awakens explores the void created by his death. Most recently, Darth Vader appeared in the first anthology film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as well as on countless t-shirts, toys, and toasters. Vader's inclusion was also a part of Rogue One's marketing, and many fans speculated what his role in the film would be - and how much screen time he would have. While Vader's appearance in Rogue One was relatively brief, his terrifying butchering of Rebel soldiers at the end of the film was one of the most popular scenes in the film.A few weeks ago, a rumor spread that Rogue One Darth Vader actor Spencer Wilding would appear in the upcoming Han Solo film. Wilding himself dismissed the rumor on his social media, but the buzz generated by a potential appearance from the Dark Lord of the Sith was both swift and not entirely dispelled by the actor's denial. Not only was Wilding's Facebook post disregarded by many of the publications who published the initial casting rumor, but some fans have also expressed their disappointment that Darth Vader will (apparently) not be appearing in the upcoming Han Solo film.Darth Vader in Star Wars The Empire Strikes BackHowever, having Darth Vader appear in the untitled Han Solo movie would be a mistake, and while fans might look forward to seeing Vader next May when the Han Solo film is slated to be released, including him in the second Star Wars anthology film would signal a larger problem for the broader universe. His inclusion wouldn't make sense for the film and would set a dangerous precedent for later Star Wars anthology films.There are plenty of reasons why Disney (who owns Lucasfilm) would see Darth Vader's inclusion in Han Solo as a positive. After all, Star Wars fans love Vader, and what Star Wars fans love translates into money. Darth Vader is the most profitable, most recognizable, and arguably most popular Star Wars character. His appearance in Rogue One generated buzz before the film and praise after the film. Additionally, by including Darth Vader in Rogue One, Disney had the opportunity to sell a new wave of Darth Vader merchandise. Of course, everything in Star Wars can be seen as a marketing ploy - take the new porgs which are set to appear in The Last Jedi this December - but Darth Vader illustrated in Rogue One that he was still as profitable as ever. Since Han Solo has had some production drama, including the departure of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller mid-production, Darth Vader might seem like the perfect teaser to encourage fans to come to the movie theaters next May.

Rogue One Official Trailer 2 Still - Darth Vader - featured

The problem with this is that just because Darth Vader is profitable for Disney doesn't mean that he should appear in every possible Star Wars movie. Darth Vader could not be included in the Han Solo film without creating large narrative questions and potential plot holes. Technically, since the Han Solo film is set, like Rogue One, before the events of the original trilogy, it would be chronologically possible for Darth Vader to make an appearance. But if Darth Vader played a significant role in the development of the young Han Solo, why would their previous interactions never come up over the course of the original trilogy? Surely Darth Vader would recognize the Millennium Falcon aboard the Death Star or the scruffy-looking nerf-herder and Wookiee co-pilot if he had crossed paths with them before, and even if he didn't, Han Solo would probably remember running into the Dark Lord of the Sith.

On the other hand, if Darth Vader only appeared in the film for a cameo and plays no significant role, then his inclusion would be only for marketing and merchandise. Either way, Vader's inclusion in the Han Solo film would be more disruptive than exciting, both for Han Solo and other Star Wars films down the pipeline.

If Darth Vader appeared in Rogue One and Han Solo (the first two films that are classified by Lucasfilm as "anthology" films), then it establishes a troubling precedent. Will Darth Vader continue to appear in every Star Wars film that predates the Battle of Endor? Will Darth Vader become a necessary and reoccurring element in the Star Wars anthology films? If he did, it would lessen his impact.

Darth Vader and Darth Sidious in Star Wars

Part of the reason why Darth Vader was so exciting in Rogue One was that he hadn't appeared on screen in his iconic helmet since Revenge of the Sith and hadn't embodied his classic villainous role since Return of the Jedi. Rogue One was the return of Darth Vader - his reappearance in Han Solo wouldn't carry the same power. And if Darth Vader appeared in a new Star Wars film every two years, his harrowing breath, skull visage, and crimson saber will lose the effect that they have on audiences around the world.

Darth Vader's presence in anthology films would also lessen the films' impact. At their core, the anthology films are meant to offer a different view of the galaxy far, far away. While the trilogy films are focused on the Skywalker family (and by that principle, focused on Darth Vader), the anthology films should offer the opportunity to explore other stories, other planets, and other protagonists. Darth Vader's presence in this films would continually draw the anthology films back to the story of the Skywalkers, and in the process, fans would miss out on the larger and unexplored corners of Star Wars.

Although it remains to be seen if Darth Vader will appear in the Han Solo film, it seems increasingly unlikely. However, fans should be glad if Vader does not appear in the film, as his inclusion would signal a troubling paradigm for future anthology films. Lucasfilm should endeavor to place story before marketing, and Darth Vader should be saved for the anthology films where he can play a crucial and captivating role.

NEXT: Ron Howard Confirms Empire For Han Solo Movie

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