UPDATED JULY 17: Alden Ehrenreich’s casting as young Han Solo in the character’s upcoming standalone film was finally confirmed today by filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller at Star Wars Celebration Europe. Ehrenreich took the stage to the delight of fans, explaining that he screen tested in the Falcon alongside Chewbacca. “I’ve never screen tested with a Wookiee. It was amazing,” he said.
The Han Solo movie will start filming in January or February.
UPDATED MAY 5: Following months of speculation, Hollywood trade publications are corroborating tonight’s Page Six report that Disney and Lucasfilm have found their young Han Solo. And as was first rumored last month, it’s Alden Ehrenreich. An official announcement has yet to be made, but with multiple news outlets independently confirming the news, it’s safe to say Ehrenreich’s a lock for the 2018 young Han Solo movie.
ORIGINALLY POSTED APRIL 14: Alden Ehrenreich may be the prime contender to star as Han Solo in Disney’s upcoming “Star Wars Story” Film about the beloved smuggler — that’s according to an unofficial report today from Deadline.
Ehrenreich’s first feature film was Tetro, directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola in 2009. Not a bad beginning, and an interesting one considering Coppola’s tangential relationship with Star Wars via his connection to George Lucas. As a young actor, Ehrenreich worked with prolific talents Cate Blanchett and Woody Allen on Blue Jasmine.
His performance in the 2016 film Hail, Caesar! was well received even if the film itself was not. A resume that includes the Coen Bros, Francis Ford Coppola, and Woody Allen is a dream for an actor at the end of their career, and Ehrenreich’s work is just beginning.
Can he pull off Han Solo? He certainly has big shoes to fill, but consider those who have put their faith in him already.
Ehrenreich’s name first surfaced in March 2016, when The Hollywood Reporter released shortlist of actors up for the role including Taron Egerton and Jack Reynor. All of the names involved had established themselves, but few had created a brand which would distract audiences watching an earlier version of Harrison Ford’s classic character. The full shortlist which Disney culled from an original pool of 2,500 actors:
- Miles Teller (Fantastic Four, Whiplash)
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Godzilla)
- Dave Franco (Neighbors, 21 Jump Street)
- Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent)
- Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson series, The Perks of Being a Wallflower)
- Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
- Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead)
No word on when an official announcement of Ehrenreich’s casting might be made by Disney and Lucasfilm.