| Zachary Johnson 8. Juli 2015 – 08:43
On the eve of San Diego Comic-Con, StarWars.com announced that directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller signed on to direct a Star Wars anthology film focusing on the early life of the young smuggler Han Solo.
“This is the first film we’ve worked on that seems like a good idea to begin with,” said Lord and Miller, who directed 2014’s The Lego Movie. “We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us. This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you’re late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you’ve loved since before you can remember having dreams at all.”
Per usual, details being kept under wraps.
Lord and Miller will be working from a screenplay co-authored by Lawrence Kasdan (who co-wrote Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens) and his Jon Kasdan (who has written for Freaks and Geeks and Dawson’s Creek).
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“We’re so excited to be working with Chris and Phil, who will bring a fresh new dimension to the Star Wars universe,” the father-son team said in statement Tuesday. “They’re two of the smartest, funniest and most original filmmakers around, and the ideal choice to tell the story of Han Solo, one of the coolest characters in the galaxy.”
Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, will produce the new film.
The as-yet-untitled film is scheduled to hit theaters on May 25, 2018.
So, who should play the young hero?
Harrison Ford was 31 when he shot the first Star Wars movie, which means that Han Solo will likely be in his teens/20s. That means fan favorites like Taylor Kitsch, 34, and Aaron Paul, 35, Chris Pratt, 36, are likely out of the running, but it leaves the door open for an up-and-coming star to take on the character.
Here, E! News looks at five potential candidates:
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1. Ansel Elgort
The 21-year-old actor earned a Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nomination for his breakout performance opposite Shailene Woodley in young adult romance The Fault in Our Stars. In addition to reprising his role as Caleb Prior in The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Part 1, Elgort will also star in November Criminals.
2. Taron Egerton
At just 25 year old, Egerton stole the show from veterans Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson in 2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service. He will appear opposite Tom Hardy in Legend (in theaters Oct. 2) and recently finished filming the sports film Eddie the Eagle with Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken.
3. Garrett Hedlund
The 30-year-old actor can skew younger, and boy, does he have range. In addition to starring in 2010’s Tron: Legacy, Hedlund appeared in 2011’s Country Strong, 2012’s On the Road and 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis. He next plays Hook in Pan—featuring Jackman, Rooney Mara and Levi Miller—in theaters Oct. 9.
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4. Anthony Ingruber
Who better to play a young Ford in a Han Solo standalone movie than the 25-year-old actor who played a young Ford in 2015’s The Age of Adaline? Ingruber previously starred in Disney Channel’s Avalon High.
5. Miles Teller
Critics have been singing the 28-year-old actor’s praises for years. After playing a supporting role in the Divergent series, he takes the lead in the ensemble blockbuster Fantastic Four, co-starring Jamie Bell, Michael B. Jordan and Kate Mara. Other credits include Footloose, The Spectacular Now and Whiplash.
Who do you think should play the role? Cast your vote now!
Meanwhile, the Star Wars Comic-Con presentation is scheduled for Friday.
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