Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

It’s official: Alden Ehrenreich is our young Han Solo

By Rick Marshall July 18, 2016

alden ehrenreich — Universal Pictures

The galaxy’s most famous (and scruffy-looking) nerf-herder has a new face.

After a previous report indicated — unofficially, of course — that Hail, Caesar! actor Alden Ehrenreich would play Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars spinoff film that will explore the iconic character’s early years, Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have now officially announced Ehrenreich as the project’s star. The actor was confirmed as the new, younger version of Han Solo during the Star Wars Celebration convention over the weekend in London.

Back in May, Deadline reported that Ehrenreich won the role over Kingsman: The Secret Service star Taron Egerton and Transformers: Age of Extinction actor Jack Reynor (among other actors), and was likely to be officially announced as the young Han Solo in the near future.

Little is known about the plot of the upcoming film, which will offer a peek at how Han Solo became one of the galaxy’s greatest smugglers (according to him, at least). It’s also expected to chronicle how Han met Chewbacca, his Wookiee co-pilot and longtime friend and partner. Chewbacca was also confirmed to have a featured role in the film.

The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing the Han Solo spinoff movie from a script penned by The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and his son, Jon Kasdan. Miller honored Star Wars Day on May 4 by posting a photo of Han Solo’s famous handgun (the one that absolutely, positively shot first) on Twitter.

“Can’t wait to get ‘shooting’! #MayThe4thBeWithYou,” reads the photo’s caption.

Can't wait to get "shooting"!#MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/HlteYut6m0

— Chris Miller (@chrizmillr) May 4, 2016

The Han Solo movie has yet to receive an official title, but it’s scheduled to hit theaters May 25, 2018. Between now and then, fans will be able to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on December 16 this year, then Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017.

Updated on 07-18-2016 by Rick Marshall: Added news of Disney and Lucasfilm’s official confirmation.

Article originally published on 05-06-2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…

Entertainment

Star Wars: Solo’s Emilia Clarke could lead a Disney+ spinoff

Emilia Clarke as Qi'ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story promo material.

Lucasfilm's theatrical Star Wars ventures admittedly reached a level of burnout by the time the sequel trilogy concluded, at least in terms of quality. The release strategy seemed solid, with mainline saga films released every other year with one-off anthologies in between. While the latter worked out for Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, things didn't go as well for Solo: A Star Wars Story. Changing directors partway through filming and being rushed to meet a deadline just five months after the release of Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi were just two of the many reasons why the film eventually became a box office bomb.

However, despite the poor commercial performance, Solo did manage to garner a moderately positive critical reception and see a boost when it was finally added to Disney+. The movie's engaging ensemble cast made for a solid sci-fi heist adventure. Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra was among them, and she showed great potential for being expanded upon outside of movies. The twist revealing Qi'ra to be working under Darth Maul's leadership in the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate could open up an exciting world for Star Wars to explore, especially in a serialized adventure on Disney+.
A proper deep dive into Star Wars' seedy underworld

Entertainment

What Star Wars fans want to see from Obi-Wan Kenobi series

Split image of Obi-Wan watching over Luke and concept art battling Darth Vader

Outside of a sequel trilogy, a solo Obi-Wan Kenobi movie or TV series has arguably been the most in-demand Star Wars project among fans. Especially given the timing, the very concept seems like a slam dunk for Lucasfilm, as Ewan McGregor's turn as the titular Jedi Master was perhaps the best thing to come out of the prequel trilogy and the actor is at the perfect age to take on such an endeavor. The vague premise and concept practically write themselves and, after years of speculation and outright lies from the star himself, Obi-Wan Kenobi is finally a go at Disney+ in a limited series format -- and it premieres in just about two months from now.

Series director Deborah Chow and writer Joby Harold have quite the task on their hands, but the long-awaited trailer for the show is dripping with promise. Chow, in particular, has already tested her mettle on the acclaimed The Mandalorian, so veteran Star Wars fans should be hopeful of the final product. Though the concept of Obi-Wan Kenobi is clear as day on paper, there are certain boxes to tick and hurdles to jump to help ensure the series measures up to the Jedi's storied legacy in the Star Wars universe and in pop culture. Here's what we'd like to see from the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
1. A story unconcerned with excessive fan service

Entertainment

Star Wars places smart bet on its past to build its future

Mark Hamill at the end of Star Wars.

Star Wars: The High Republic | Announcement Trailer

The future of Star Wars, it seems, will be forged in the past.