Aaron Paul Rumored For ‘Star Wars’ Han Solo Spinoff, December 2016

Aaron Paul has turned up in a pretty juicy Star Wars rumor.

The unofficial word going around is that the Star Wars spinoff planned for after Episode VII will focus on Han Solo, and Paul is now being considered for a lead.

That’s “a” lead, not “the” lead, though it’s fun to think he would be the guy replacing Harrison Ford as a young Han.

Making Star Wars‘ editor-in-chief Jason Ward explains.

“I generally shy away from reporting too much on the specifics of the stand-alone spin-off Star Wars films because we hear so much stuff it can be difficult to know what to take seriously. Since there has never been a Star Wars spin-off film like what we’re about to get, there’s no good or bad track record. For this reason, we’re having to rely pretty much entirely on the sources that have panned out for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So today’s information comes from a friend that did give us legit Star Wars: The Force Awakens set photos and more.”

Ward goes on to say that the code name for the production is “Luminac Industrial Goods,” and filming will “eventually overlap with some of Star Wars Episode VIII.”

This film would be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) and written by Gary Whitta (After Earth), and it would arrive in theaters on December 16, 2016.

Personally, I would think that if Aaron Paul is being considered, it would be for a part other than Han. While he was phenomenal in Breaking Bad, Need for Speed did little to prove he was ready to carry a feature film.

Throw in the fact that he has a certain kind of anti-Harrison Ford swagger that shows up in all his roles, good or bad, and casting him in this role wouldn’t jive well with the original or current trilogies, which feature the Ford version of the character.

It’s certainly possible for a good actor to be terribly miscast. John Wayne once played Genghis Khan. Colin Farrell was Alexander the Great. Vince Vaughn even took over the role of Norman Bates!

But if you’re going to try and replace the original Han Solo, you’d better do it with someone who at least reminds us of him. And if that is what Disney is shooting for, Jesse Pinkman isn’t the right answer.

But what do you think, readers? Should a Star Wars Han Solo spinoff feature Aaron Paul in the lead role? Sound off in our comments section.

[Image via nerdist.com and poptower.com]