According to a report from MakingStarWars, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will retain some of Han Solo's backstory from the "Star Wars Legends" properties, formerly known as the Expanded Universe. Some of that backstory will play a part in the upcoming film and the Anthology "Han Solo" film.
The report states that Han Solo will still be a Corellian but there are no indications that his backstory will include him formerly working in the Imperial military. As for Chewbacca, it is said that the Wookie became an Imperial prisoner after the events in "Revenge of the Sith" until Han Solo freed him, and now, Chewbacca owes Solo a life debt, becoming his partner in crime.
According to a report from Screen Rant, this rumor is mostly credible because Wookies have already been shown as Imperial slaves before. During the premiere episode of "Star Wars Rebels," the main group of characters had to free some Wookie prisoners before the Empire would send them off to mining facilities.
The rumors don't just stop there. MakingStarWars also cites that a group led by Ducain and the Irving Boys are hunting down Han Solo, who has become more bitter since the end of "Return of the Jedi" and spends more time getting wasted in bars. Apparently, Solo's troubles didn't end with the death of Jabba the Hut.
Scenes from the first trailer of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" also indicate that Han Solo just got the Millenium Falcon back into his possession. According to MakingStarWars, the famous pirate lost the ship just days or even moments prior to the events of the film, indicating he and Chewbacca didn't lose the ship for very long.
Harrison Ford returns in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" to portray the space pirate, while a spin-off film focusing on a younger Han Solo is currently in development and is to be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opens in theaters on Dec. 18.
