Young Han Solo Gets a Face, Finally
by EG
It's been a long time coming, but Disney has finally confirmed which actor will play the young Han Solo in its upcoming Star Wars prequel. The role will go to Alden Ehrenreich, who is best known for his role in Hail Caesar.
Last month, several sources reported that the casting decision had been narrowed down to a short list of three actors that included Ehrenreich, Taron Egerton and Jack Reynor. That list had been itself narrowed from a much longer list, and casting had been going on for months. Speculation assumed that Disney was being careful in its choice as it tried to strike a balance between an actor who resembles Harrison Ford, who originated the iconic role, and one who is unique and appealing enough to carry the franchise into the next century.
The new film will explore the life of the scoundrel Solo before he joined forces with the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Its presumed title is Han Solo: A Star Wars Story, and it is currently in preproduction with co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Before the Solo film launches, however, Disney will release Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in December 2016 and Star Wars Episode VIII in December 2017.