6 Character Match-Ups We Need from New Star Wars vs Marvel Crossover

The idea of Star Wars and Marvel sharing a comic book universe has existed in fan conversations for decades, but it is finally becoming official. Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles is a five-issue limited series written by Kevin Smith and illustrated by David Marquez, with the first issue scheduled for January 2027. The monthly series will place the original Star Wars heroes directly into Marvel’s Earth-616 continuity.

The crossover is timed to the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, specifically the 1977 release of Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. The premise already promises combinations involving characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Doctor Doom, Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine. While the announced artwork, via Entertainment Weekly, provides plenty of dream pairings, there are several specific character combinations that deserve to become major moments in the five-issue story.

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Luke Skywalker and Captain America

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Luke Skywalker and Captain America might be the most obvious heroic pairing in Hope Assembles, because both characters represent idealism without being completely naïve about the world around them. Luke begins A New Hope as an inexperienced farm boy before becoming the person willing to confront Darth Vader and the Empire. Steve Rogers similarly carries the ideals of another era into a complicated modern world, making their first conversation particularly interesting.

The biggest appeal would be seeing how their leadership styles differ. Luke relies heavily on instinct, the Force and the lessons of Obi-Wan Kenobi, while Captain America is fundamentally a soldier who trusts preparation, discipline and teamwork. A battlefield sequence could bring those approaches together beautifully, particularly if Steve recognizes that Luke is more than a powerful Jedi and Luke realizes that Captain America represents the same kind of hope he has been fighting to preserve.

Their partnership would also provide a natural way for Hope Assembles to explore Earth-616’s reaction to the Jedi. To Marvel’s heroes, the Force would initially seem like an extraordinary superpower, but Luke would understand it as something much more spiritual and philosophical. Captain America is one of the few Marvel heroes whose values would allow him to appreciate that distinction rather than simply treating Luke as another superhuman.

5

Han Solo and Iron Man

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Han Solo and Tony Stark would probably produce some of the crossover’s funniest dialogue. Both characters are confident, sarcastic and accustomed to using humor when situations become dangerous. Han has spent years bluffing his way through impossible circumstances aboard the Millennium Falcon, while Stark built an entire superhero identity around intelligence, technology and an almost relentless stream of jokes.

Their similarities would make their differences even more entertaining. Han’s relationship with technology is practical: the Millennium Falcon is a ship that needs to get from one place to another, preferably faster than whatever is chasing it. Stark, meanwhile, is obsessed with improving technology simply because he believes he can. Watching Tony inspect the Falcon would almost certainly create a disagreement over whether its battered appearance reflects genius engineering or terrible maintenance.

There is also a more serious side to this matchup. Han starts A New Hope as someone motivated largely by money, yet he ultimately returns to help the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Yavin. Tony Stark has a similarly complicated relationship with responsibility, particularly after recognizing the consequences of his earlier choices. A conversation between the two could reveal that beneath their bravado, both characters understand what it means to become better than the people they once were.

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Princess Leia and Captain Marvel

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Princess Leia and Carol Danvers would make an especially interesting pairing because neither character needs to be protected by the other. Leia is already one of the Rebel Alliance’s most important leaders during A New Hope, while Captain Marvel is among Marvel’s most powerful heroes. Putting them together would create an encounter between two women who approach extraordinary circumstances with very different forms of authority.

Leia’s strength comes from leadership, political intelligence and an unwillingness to surrender when circumstances become desperate. Carol has the advantage of superhuman abilities, including immense strength, flight and energy projection. That contrast creates an opportunity for Leia to demonstrate something important: being the physically stronger person does not automatically make someone the leader. Leia has spent years organizing resistance against the Empire despite operating without overwhelming power.

Captain Marvel could also give Leia a different perspective on Earth-616. Carol has dealt with cosmic threats and understands how enormous the universe really is, whereas Leia’s worldview during A New Hope remains centered on the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Their conversation could quickly move beyond introductions and become a discussion about responsibility, military power and what leaders owe the people depending on them.

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Doctor Doom and Darth Vader

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Doctor Doom and Darth Vader are arguably the crossover’s most intimidating potential matchup. Both characters have become iconic villains associated with imposing armor, overwhelming authority and enormous personal power. More importantly, neither antagonist is content simply to serve someone else’s agenda. Vader operates under Emperor Palpatine, while Doom’s defining characteristic is his absolute belief that Victor von Doom is uniquely qualified to rule.

Their differences are just as important as their similarities. Vader’s identity is rooted in tragedy, manipulation and his fall from Anakin Skywalker into a Sith Lord. Doom’s identity is tied to arrogance, intellect and his conviction that his genius justifies his rule over Latveria. A confrontation between them would not merely be about lightsabers versus advanced technology; it would be a clash between two completely different philosophies of power.

The most intriguing possibility would involve Doom attempting to exploit Vader’s connection to the Force. Doom is hardly the type of villain who would simply attack an unfamiliar supernatural ability without studying it first. Meanwhile, Vader would immediately recognize another armored ruler who considers himself superior to ordinary people. Their inevitable conflict could become one of the crossover’s central villainous confrontations, particularly if neither is willing to accept the other’s authority.

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Wolverine and Chewbacca

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Wolverine and Chewbacca may look like an unusual combination at first, but the pairing makes remarkable sense once their personalities and histories are considered. Both characters are physically imposing warriors who communicate more through actions than lengthy speeches. Chewbacca is Han Solo’s loyal partner and co-pilot, while Wolverine has repeatedly served as one of the X-Men’s most dependable fighters despite his famously abrasive personality.

Their fighting styles would also make the matchup visually spectacular. Chewbacca carries his iconic bowcaster and possesses considerable physical strength, while Wolverine relies on his adamantium skeleton, enhanced senses and retractable claws. A fight between them would be dangerous, but a team-up would be even more entertaining. Their opposing weapons could complement one another during a battle against Imperial and Marvel forces.

The emotional connection is perhaps even more important. Both characters have endured long lives filled with violence and loss, and neither requires much explanation from the people they trust. Wolverine’s relationship with the X-Men frequently revolves around loyalty despite his rough exterior, while Chewbacca’s friendship with Han defines much of his role in the original trilogy. They could establish a surprisingly sincere friendship without needing many words.

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Deadpool and Boba Fett

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Deadpool and Boba Fett might be the crossover pairing most likely to completely derail whatever serious plan everyone else has made. Both are masked mercenaries with reputations for surviving ridiculous situations, but their personalities could hardly be more different. Boba Fett is traditionally controlled, intimidating and economical with his words, whereas Wade Wilson has built an entire identity around talking far more than anyone wants him to.

The comedy practically writes itself. Deadpool would almost certainly have questions about Boba’s armor, jetpack, flamethrower, wrist weapons and famously dangerous reputation. Boba, meanwhile, would have very little reason to tolerate Wade’s constant commentary. Their first meeting could easily become an attempted confrontation before circumstances force them into the same mission, especially if both are pursuing the same target for entirely different reasons.

There is also an opportunity to give Boba the straight-man role in a way that makes his established reputation from Star Wars even funnier. Deadpool’s healing factor means Boba’s conventional approach to eliminating targets would not work particularly well, while Boba’s Mandalorian equipment gives him advantages Wade would immediately want to copy. A temporary partnership between the two bounty hunters could become one of Hope Assembles’ most memorable sequences, especially if it leaves both characters questioning why they ever agreed to work together.

TV Show(s)

The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions

Cast

Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal

Movie(s)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order