Back when Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle was first conceived, it was originally going to be set around the same time of the 2015 film . As such, this story started as one starring Poe Dameron. However, when plans changed to set it around the same time as the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Dameron was replaced by Han Solo.
Cavan Scott's original intent for the issue was a story featuring the Nightsisters, but given that the story's placement on the timeline made that impossible, he opted to use Han Solo and Chewbacca as protagonists. One of Scott's inspirations for the story was Disney's 2013 hit animated film Frozen, as Scott's daughters loved such film.
At one point in the issue, Han Solo says that Chewbacca is 192 years old, placing the story around the year 8 BBY. However, the comic also references Solo and Chewbacca's from The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear!, which featured the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Since the Rebel Alliance was not formed as of 8 BBY, it can be deduced that the "192 years old" line is incorrect.
In responding a fan question about the matter, Lucasfilm Story Group's Matt Martin responded that respect to the Ushruu mission reference, it could be possible that Han and Chewie had more than one mission there, while Han wasn't really being exact about Chewie's age, adding that Han himself doesn't know even his own.
- UPC 827714016321; October 17, 2018; IDW Publishing
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