It’s official! As previously rumored, it has now been confirmed thatAlden Ehrenreichis the new pilot of the Millennium Falcon in 2018’sHan Solo: A Star Wars Story. The actor was chosen out of literally thousands to take over the role of the iconic space pirate previously inhabited byHarrison Ford. This latestStar Warsspinoff arrives Christmas 2018. And it is directed byPhil LordandChris Miller.
Disney and LucasFilm have not yet sent out an official confirmation for this casting, as final negotiations are now in place forAlden Ehrenreichto don that legendary vest and grabHan Solo’s blaster. This news comes after an exhausting casting search for Disney and LucasFilm, which had over 2,500 young actorsauditioningof the role.Alden Ehrenreichis just one of three actors who made it into the semi-finals.
The other two actors who were close to landing the gig areKingsmanstarTaron EgertonandTransformers: Age of ExtinctionstarJack Reynor.Fantastic Four’sMiles Teller,Ansel ElgortandBrooklynstarEmory Cohenwere also on a short list of possible candidates who simply did not bring the star power needed to take on such an important role in the continuingStar Warsuniverse set up at Disney.
The character was a hard one to recast, asHarrison FordisHan Soloand nearly impossible to replace. The character was first introduced in 1977’sStar Wars: A New Hope, withFordreprising the character three more times on the big screen in 1980’sThe Empire Strikes Back, 1983’sReturn of the Jediand 2015’sThe Force Awakens. The actor also played Han Solo in the infamousStar Wars Christmas Specialfrom 1978, and he will reprise the character’s voice in the new LEGOThe Force Awakensvideo game that is releasing soon.
Han Solo: A Star Wars Storyis being written byLawrence Kasdan, who helped write the scripts forEmpire,JediandThe Force Awakens. He will be working alongside his sonJon Kasdan. DirectorsPhil LordandChris Millerare best known forThe LEGO Movieand the first two21 Jump Streetmovies. They are also responsible forCloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.
Alden Ehrenreichhas an interesting backstory as an actor. You may know him best from his scene stealing role earlier this year in TheCoenBrothers’Hail, Caesar!He was first discovered as a young boy in a bat mitzvah video bySteven Spielberg. The director was so impressed by some of the kid’s antics, he opened the door for the young actor who quickly garnered a few TV appearances before making his feature film debut inFrancis Ford Coppola’s2009 black and white dramaTetrostarring opposite Vincent Gallo.
The actor most recently wrapped on the Iraq War dramaThe Yellow Birdsstarring oppositeX-Men: ApocalypsestarTye SheridanandJennifer Aniston. He will next be seen in an untitled drama that is written and directed byWarren Beatty. There is no word on when we’ll get to see the first official photo ofAlden Ehrenreichas Han Solo. He will be accompanied inHan Solo: A Star Wars StorybyChewbacca, with Swedish actorJoonas Suotamoreportedly taking over forPeter Mayhewafter serving as the original actor’s stand-in and stunt double onThe Force AwakensandStar Wars: Episode VIII. Two days ago in celebration ofStar Wars Day, directorChris Millertweeted out the first image fromHan Solo: A Star Wars Storythat featured Han’s blaster. You can check it out here.
