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

By Rick Marshall Updated 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.

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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.

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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

— Christopher 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.

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