
With (nearly) everyone focused on the Star Wars spinoff film, Rogue One, which is dropping this December, the executives over at Lucasfilm are actually looking beyond that film and have just officially introduced Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!, Stoker) as the young Han Solo in the as of yet untitled Han Solo standalone film that is due on May 25, 2018. While attending the Star Wars Celebration Europe, at the ExCel Centre in London, Episode VIII Directors, Rian Johnson, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who were accompanied by Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy announced that Ehrenreich will appear as Han in that movie.
While the plot of the Han Solo film is largely unknown, The Star Wars Wiki does offer up some clues. The story is reportedly about Han as he becomes the smuggler we initially met in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The film purportedly also features Chewbacca in what is described as an “origin story” for the characters. The film is being directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord and written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan. Ehrenreich landed the part ahead of several thousand other actors who also auditioned for the part of Solo.
Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled to open on Dec. 15, 2017.