With the upcoming release of "The Force Awakens" and the return of Harrison Ford to the iconic role of Han Solo now is the time to finally set the record straight: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Han Solo shot Greedo and he acted in self-defense.

In the original theatrical release of Star Wars: A New Hope, Han Solo shoots and kills the bounty hunter Greedo in a Mos Eisley cantina. George Lucas, the film's director, has said that he was dissatisfied with the scene because Solo shoots Greedo first, making it seem as though he is "a cold-blooded killer." In later editions of the film the scene was edited so that Greedo fires at Solo from point blank range, somehow misses, and then Solo returns fire. That change never sat well with fans of the original film for the simple reason that it was completely unnecessary. Nothing about the original scene suggests that Han Solo is a cold-blooded killer.

In the original version of the film it is obvious that Greedo intends to kill Solo and his decision to shoot first is entirely reasonable. Greedo is already in the cantina when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi arrive. He doesn't elect to confront Solo until Chewbacca leaves to get the Millennium Falcon ready for departure. Greedo waits until he sees that Solo is vulnerable before confronting him. Greedo points a blaster at Solo's chest and forces him back to the table where he had been sitting. Then the two of them have the following exchange:

"Going somewhere, Solo?"

"Yes, Greedo, as a matter of fact I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money."

"It's too late; you should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put a price on your head so large every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you first."

"Yeah, but this time I've got the money."

"If you give it to me, I might forget I found you."

"I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba--"

"Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser."

"Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?"

"You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship."

"Over my dead body..."

"That's the idea. I've been looking forward to this for a long time."  

"Yes, I'll bet you have."

Then Solo shoots. During this exchange Solo had surreptitiously unholstered his blaster and had it pointed at Greedo underneath the table. Greedo never saw the shot coming.


http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/12/ua_professor_han_solo_was_lega.html#incart_river_home

Yes. He had him at gun point threatening to kill him.

Good shoot.