Now thatRogue One: A Star Wars Storyis out andStar Wars: Episode VIIIhas finished filming, Disney and Lucasfilm can focus on the next movie they have set in a galaxy far, far away. That happens to the be the youngHan Solospin-off, and as production nears, the cast is starting to fill out. Now it looks likeWoody Harrelsonmay be the next big name to join theStar Warsuniverse.
A report fromVarietyclaims thatWoody Harrelsonis in early negotiations with Lucasfilm for a role in the upcomingHan SoloStar Warsspinoff. According to their sources, he will be playing something of a mentor to the legendary smuggler. The report notes that this is still in the very early stages, but he appears to be the studio’s top choice for the part. Variety states that executives wanted an actor with “considerable clout” and that they have been meeting with several big names over the past few weeks.
The report didn’t name who any of the other actors were, but apparentlyWoody Harrelsonwas the one that they liked the most. As far as “clout” goes, he certainly seems to have it as of late. This year he starred in several major movies, includingNow You See Me 2,Triple 9,LBJandThe Edge of Seventeen.Triple 9was met with mixed reception and didn’t do much at the box office, but outside of that his other three offerings this year were all successes to some degree.Now You See Me 2did very well at the box office andThe Edge of Seventeenwas heralded by critics and has been in the awards season conversation.
2017 doesn’t look to be slowing down at all forWoody Harrelsoneither. He will be starring inThe Glass Castlewith Oscar winnerBrie Larson, but perhaps most notably, he is set to appear as the villain in the highly-anticipatedWar for the Planet of the Apes.Woody Harrelsonalso definitely seems like the kind of guy who could play a semi-scummy mentor to a smuggler who dabbles in things on the wrong side of the law, asHan Solodoes. His previous work in movies likeNo Country For Old Menand oddly enough something likeKingpinwould definitely support that idea.
Little has been revealed aboutHan Solo: A Star Wars Storyright now, but we do know thatThe LEGO Movieand21 Jump StreetdirectorsPhil LordandChris Millerare directing and thatAlden Ehrenreichis set to play Han Solo. In addition,Game of ThronesstarEmilia Clarkehas been cast as the female lead, but her character hasn’t been identified yet, andDonald Gloverhas been cast as a young Lando Calrissian. It has also been said that the movie will take place about ten years before the events ofStar Wars: A New Hopeand that Chewbacca will be in it, which only makes sense.
IfWoody Harrelsondoes wind up landing the role, the cast for this movie is certainly shaping up to be interesting and fairly diverse in terms of the kinds of talent Disney and Lucasfilm are pursuing for it. As of right now theHan Solomovie is slated for aMay 25, 2018, release date, but recent reports have suggested that Disney is looking to move it to December 2018, following the successes of bothStar Wars: The Force AwakensandRogue One: A Star Wars Story. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
