Ron Howard Announces Title Of Young Han Solo Prequel Film

Director Ron Howard announced the name of the young Han Solo prequel film. It will be called Solo: A Star Wars Story.  The movie finished production October 17, 2017, and is scheduled for release May 25, 2018.

Alden Ehrenreich will be Han Solo. {photo by VisionElle)

Ron Howard was hired in June to replace the original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, a day after they were released from the project for “creative differences” with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and script co-writer Lawrence Kasdan.  Filming began February 20, 2017, at England’s Pinewood Studios.

Alden Ehrenreich stars as the title character in Solo: A Star Wars Story, recreating the dashing Corellian rogue first brought to life by Harrison Ford in the movies and Perry King in the radio adaptation.

Donald Glover will play Lando Calrissian.  Billy Dee Williams created the role in the movies and on radio.  Finnish actor and athlete Joonas Suotomo, who was Peter Mayhew’s body double in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is taking over the role of Chewbacca from Mayhew.  Woody Harrelson will be playing Han’s mentor, Beckett.  Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton, Warwick Davis, Paul Bettany, and Clint Howard will also be in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Image via Disney

According to Disney, the movie will focus on “Han Solo and Chewbacca’s adventures before joining the Rebellion, including their early encounters with Lando Calrissian.”  The late Brian Daley wrote three books about Han Solo’s adventures before meeting up with Luke

Will this movie tell how Han Solo won the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian?

Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi.  Since Disney purchased Lucasfilm, these books are no longer canon and may or may not influence the plot of Solo: A Star Wars Story.  It will be interesting to see whether or not Solo is still an Imperial military veteran, dishonorably discharged, as he was in Han Solo and the Lost Legacy. 

Solo: A Star Wars Story will be released May 25, 2018.  All questions (well, most questions) will be answered then.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.