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Alden Ehrenreich Will Likely Play Young Han Solo In ‘Star Wars’ Standalone Movie

By Val Powell
Published on: 23:09 PST, Apr 13, 2016

The Star Wars universe may have found its Han Solo. According to rumors, Alden Ehrenreich is likely to play Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars spinoff film.

Deadline reported that the search for the next young Solo seemed like a top-secret project under the code name “Red Cup” but after a lengthy screen test, Ehrenreich, who reportedly gave an impressive performance, has emerged the frontrunner for the iconic role. Other actors being considered to play Han Solo were Jack Reynor and Taron Egerton.

The 26-year-old Ehrenreich recently starred in Joel and Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar!, a comedy film in which he played an actor in 1950s Hollywood. He also appeared in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, Chan-wook Park’s Stoker, and in Francis Coppola films Twixt and Tetro.

The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that thousands of actors tried their luck to be cast for the Star Wars standalone picture’s lead role. More than 2,500 actors have auditioned for the project, with casting director Jeanne McCarthy overseeing the process to find the right guy for the role immortalized by Harrison Ford in the first Star Wars trilogy and The Force Awakens.

Big and small names vied for the role, including Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, and Dave Franco. Logan Lerman and Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes were also among the many well-known actors who took part in the audition. To be part of the Star Wars franchise is like realizing a childhood dream, so it is not surprising if these actors would want to play the iconic role.

“This has been the easiest movie to audition for,” a talent agent with a client who has auditioned for the Han Solo role told the Hollywood Reporter. “They are seeing everyone.”

According to sources, the actors also vary in age with Walking Dead’s star Chandler Riggs, 16, as the youngest and Mr. Robot star Rami Malek, 34, as the oldest. Casting directors have also met with Canadian Hemlock Grove actor Landon Liboiron, 23. It has also been reported that English actors Tom Felton, 28, and Ed Westwick, 28 auditioned for the part as well.

The casting team was said to be looking for someone who looks a bit like young Harrison Ford. The veteran actor was 35 when he first played Han Solo. They also want someone “who can be funny and charming as well as handle the expected action scenes,” Hollywood Reporter said.

Last time, the producers and director of the hit trilogy cast newcomers and lesser known actors to play the main characters of the Force Awakens, the movie that re-launched the Star Wars franchise under Disney and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership.

Daisy Ridley had a few TV appearances before she made it big with The Force Awakens as Rey, while her co-star John Boyega had done small projects in the past.

According to Deadline, the Han Solo film will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Disney is planning to release the Star Wars standalone film on May 25, 2018. It is scheduled to start production on January 2017. The film will focus on Solo’s life before he joined the Rebel Alliance. Lawrence Kasdan and son Jon Kasdan will be writing the script. The Star Wars spinoff will be executive produced by Lawrence Kasdan alongside Jason McGatlin.

It has also been reported that Chewbacca will be featured in the film, but it is not clear whether Force Awakens’ Joonas Suotamo will reprise the role.

Ehrenreich has yet to confirm the reports about playing young Han Solo in the Star Wars standalone film.

[Photo by Rich Fury/AP Images]

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