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Solo: A Star Wars Story is the second Star Wars Anthology film produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. that, like the first Anthology film, Rogue One, is not a part of the main Star Wars Saga. The movie will cover the backstory of the famous smuggler, Han Solo, in the years before his appearance in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Other than Han, several other characters from the original trilogy will be returning, including Han's wookie sidekick, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian.
Official description[]
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
Development[]
Origins[]
The earliest incarnations of a live-action depiction of young Han Solo, before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, came during the pre-production of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Writer and director George Lucas conceived an idea of Solo as a child on Kashyyyk, with Chewbacca raising the young boy like a son. Solo would have been present during the Battle of Kashyyyk and would have encountered Yoda, helping the Jedi Master discover scraps of a droid that could have aided Yoda in determining the whereabouts of General Grievous. Concept art from Iain McCaig showed the young Solo as a slob, a juxtaposition of the character in his later years. "He's such a persnickety guy later — he always has to have the best of everything," McCaig said in The Art of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, "so I thought it'd be great if when he was a kid, he was an absolute slob." These concepts never made it out of pre-production, and Solo did not appear in Revenge of the Sith—though Chewbacca ultimately did make a cameo appearance during the battle.
After the release of Revenge of the Sith, Lucas began planning a live-action television series called Star Wars: Underworld, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The series, dealing with elements of the criminal underworld, could have included some of Solo's backstory. According to Stephen Scaia, one of the writers of the ultimately unproduced series, revealed that the writers came up with a story for how Solo met Chewbacca. Another story would have dealt with how Solo met Lando Calrissian, who first appeared in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.
Pre-production[]
Ideas for a young Han Solo film began to percolate in the lead up to The Walt Disney Company's acquisition to Lucasfilm. In October 2012, as Lucas was preparing to sell his company, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy contacted Lawrence Kasdan, writer of The Empire Strikes Back and co-writer of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and asked him to meet her and Lucas to discuss new films in the Star Wars franchise. Kasdan recounted that Lucas had already come up with some basic ideas for the sequel trilogy and had also come up with the concept of stand-alone films. One of those movies was about young Han Solo, before the events of A New Hope. Kasdan was initially hesitant on being part of the new films, but he decided he could do the Han Solo movie as Solo was his favorite character. He was also hired to consult on and, alongside director J.J. Abrams, eventually co-write what became Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.
The existence of a Kasdan-driven stand-alone film was first announced on February 5, 2013. The announcement came with word that Kasdan would write one film, while Simon Kinberg would be working on another. In an investor call, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger revealed that the original focus of Lucasfilm was for the sequel trilogy but that they were also working on stand-alones that would not be part of the core Star Wars Saga. It was not until July 7, 2015 that the film's release date of May 25, 2018 and its focus on a young Han Solo were announced. It was further announced that the project would be directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Jon Kasdan, Lawrence's son, was also announced as a co-writer. On March 8, 2016, Iger confirmed that the film was an "origin story about Han Solo and Chewie."
Several thousand actors auditioned for the part of Solo, before Alden Ehrenreich was officially announced during Celebration Europe. Additional casting announcements revealed that Donald Glover would play Lando Calrissian and Emilia Clarke would play an unannounced role.
Production[]
Principal photography began in January 2017, with a working title of "Star Wars: Red Cup". By March, a film crew was present in Fuerteventura, Spain. One of the three rewards in the 2017 Force for Change fundraiser will be a role in the film.
On June 20, 2017, Lucasfilm announced that directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were departing from the project due to creative differences and that a new director would be announced soon. Entertainment Weekly reported that Lord and Miller encouraged and improvisational style on set, which Lucasfilm insiders believed was moving the film away from the vision crafted by the Kasdans in their script and ended up significantly changing the story. Lucasfilm believed that these apparent issues could be fixed during reshoots, but Lord and Miller were reportedly reluctant to significantly alter their approach to the film. As a result, Kennedy made the decision to remove Lord and Miller from the production.
On June 22, it was announced by Lucasfilm that Ron Howard would take over directorial duties for the film. Howard had previously worked with Lucasfilm to direct the 1988 fantasy film Willow, starring veteran Star Wars actor Warwick Davis. After the announcement, Howard said that he had been a fan of Star Wars since the beginning—he worked with Lucas on the film American Graffiti, pre-dating A New Hope—and that he found it "gratifying to be asked to lend my voice to the [Star Wars] universe." Michael Kenneth Williams was originally cast in the film but was unavailable for the reshoots, so he was replaced by Paul Bettany.
On October 14, it was announced that screenwriter Jon Kasdan and first assistant director Toby Hefferman will portray Imperial officers Tag and Bink, two characters that first appeared in the Star Wars comics published by Dark Horse Comics.
On October 17, Ron Howard confirmed that production had wrapped up, and he officially announced the title of the film would be Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Release[]
Solo: A Star Wars Story is scheduled to be released on May 25, 2018, the 41st anniversary of the release of A New Hope, in which Harrison Ford first appeared as Han Solo. Despite the firing of Lord and Miller, Lucasfilm has maintained that the film is still on schedule for its intended release date.
Cast and Crew[]
Cast[]
- Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo
- Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca
- Woody Harrelson as Beckett
- Emilia Clarke as Qi'ra
- Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian
- Thandie Newton as Val
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge as L3-37
- Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos
- Jon Favreau as Rio Durant (voice)
- Erin Kellyman as Enfys Nest
- Linda Hunt as Lady Proxima (voice)
- Ian Kenny as Rebolt
- John Tui as Korso
- Anna Francolini as Imperial Emigration Officer
- Andrew Woodall as Imperial Recruitment Officer
- Warwick Davis as Weazel
- Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Imperial Mudtrooper
- Eben Figueiredo as Imperial Mudtrooper
- Aaron Heffernan as Imperial Mudtrooper
- Hal Fowler as Mimban Lieutenant
- Damian Farrell as Mimban Guard
- Charlotte Louise as Margo
- Sema-Tawi Smart as Chanteuse
- Clint Howard as Ralakili
- Dee Tails as Quay Tolsite
- Attila Vajda as Sagwa
- Anthony Daniels as Tak
- Kiran Shah as Karjj
- Fraser Kelly as Eager Scrumrat
- Lily Newmark as Lexi
- Jason Wong as Weapons Check Enforcer
- Alice Hewkin as Female Guest
- Samantha Colley as Ottilie
- Robert Morgan as Imperial Guest
- Miles Richardson as Regional Governor
- Sammy Hayman as Spaceport Father
- Rona Morison as Spaceport Mother
- Dempsey Bovell as Imperial Clerk
- Joseph Charles as Savareen Air Traffic Controller
- Dave Chapman as Rio Durant & Lady Proxima Lead Performer
- Katy Kartwheel as Rio Durant Performer
- Harley Durst as Moloch Performer
- Andrew Jack as Moloch (voice)
- Sam Witwer as Maul (voice)
- Ray Park as Maul
Creature and Droid Puppeteers[]
- Derek Arnold
- Don Austen
- William Banyard
- Lauren Barrand
- Daisy Beattie
- Susan Beattie
- Tom Bell
- Stuart Bone
- Lynn Robertson Bruce
- Ritchie Burgess
- Derek Campbell
- Chris Clarke
- Marcus Clarke
- Patrick Comerford
- Aidan Cook
- Ben Cook
- Liam Cook
- Richard Coombs
- Cavin Cornwall
- Annabelle Davis
- Paul Davis
- Warwick Davis
- Matthew Denton
- Iestyn Evans
- Barbara Fadden
- Adrian Falconer
- Damian Farrell
- James Feurtado
- Mike Filippidis
- Kain Francis
- Barny Harrison
- Claire Roy Harvey
- Andy Heath
- Brian Herring
- Neal Holmes
- Mark Jefferis
- Paul Kasey
- Nick Kellington
- Varpu Kronholm
- Rachel Leonard
- Matt Lyons
- Diana Man
- Alison McGowan
- Dilu Miah
- Maja Miszker
- Robert Nairne
- Mohsen Nouri
- Brad Oakley
- Lauren Okadigbo
- Wim Oppenheimer
- Adrian Parish
- Nathan Plant
- Jake Pogson
- Colin Purves
- Tim Rose
- Ross Sambridge
- Ali Sarebani
- Fatemeh Sarebani
- Stephanie Silva
- Petrova Simpson
- Helena Smee
- Kat Smee
- Neil Sterenberg
- Hassan Taj
- Olly Taylor
- James Henri Thomas
- Glynn Turner
- Matt Tyler
- Rebecca Van Cleave
- Jimmy Vee
- Mark Whitaker
- Tom Wilton
- Edmund Wood
- Phill Woodfine
Additional Voices[]
- David Acord
- Verona Blue
- Steve Blum
- David Boat
- David W. Collins
- Kevin Deters
- Jonathan Dixon
- Terri Douglas
- Robin Atkin Downes
- Nika Futterman
- Karen Huie
- Tom Kane
- Lex Lang
- Devon Libran
- Yuri Lowenthal
- Vanessa Marshall
- Jon Olson
- William M. Patrick
- James Ritz
- Lynwood Robinson
- Kat Sheridan
- David Sobolov
- Julian Stone
- Fred Tatasciore
- James Arnold Taylor
- Debra Wilson
- Sam Witwer
- Matthew Wood
Uncredited Cast and Crew[]
Cast[]
- Omar Alboukharey as Deck Person
- Juan Alonso as Space Mine Droid
- Miriam Amy as Extra
- Deepak Anand as Sheesha Smoking Guest
- Derek Arnold as Argus Panox
- Izzy Bayley-King as Vero
- Abigail Birch as Scrumrat
- David J Biscoe as Extra
- James Black as Extra
- Sal Bolton as Fisherwoman
- Mark Burt as Imperial Technician
- Christine Callaghan as Spice Slave
- Sandra Capel as Shopper / Vagrant
- Lieve Carchon as Pub Goer
- Belinda Chapple as Dryden's Guest
- Amin Chavoushi as Extra
- Al Clark as Airport Civilian
- Richard Cooper as Fisherman
- Sarah-Jane De Crespigny as Slave
- Femi Davies as Meeting Attendee
- Paul Davis as Drill Wookiee Slave
- Richard Dixon as Elite Citizen
- Kristianne-Kaith Domingo as Civilian Woman
- John Duggan as Fisherman
- Jordan Dumaurier as Mud Trooper
- Bethany Duncan as Bounty Hunter / Party Guest
- Guinevere Edwards as Market Trader
- Vikki Edwards as Fisherwoman
- Kelsey Ellison as Wormwood Child
- Marc Esse as Imperial Officer
- Lana Eyre as Dancer
- Kristine Fernandez as Slave
- James Filanowski as Imperial Officer
- John Foreman as Fish Market Worker
- Lain Freefall as Naley Frifa
- Melanie Frobisher as Inhabitant of Cold Planet
- Sean Gislingham as Mud Trooper
- Marta Glowacka-Escote as Dancer
- David Guerrero as Dancer
- Jaseon H. as Extra
- Juke Hardy as Market Trader
- Sarah Sayuri Hare as Space Bar Girl
- Ian Harrod as Imperial Officer
- Philip Harvey as Imperial Officer
- Robin Harvey as Imperial Mudtrooper
- Marina Hayter as Droid Arena Spectator
- Toby Hefferman as Tag Greenley (scenes deleted)
- Bibiana Hernández as Industrial Working Civilian
- Brian Herring as Hirang Birren
- Robert Hladik as Imperial Speeder Trooper
- Tien Hoang as Moloch's Henchman
- Ty Hurley as Imperial Fleet Trooper / Space Port Technician
- Sean James as Henchman
- Tobias James-Samuels as Stormtrooper
- Jackson Kai as Elite Citizen
- John Kamau as Savareen Miner
- Jonathan Kasdan as Bink Otauna (scenes deleted)
- Tyrone Kearns as Gambler at Lodge
- Lydia Kerr as Extra
- Slim Khezri as Alien
- David Kline as Fleet Trooper
- Chido Kunene as Airport Civilian
- Kamil Lemieszewski as Skipper at Dryden's Ship
- Jorge Leon Martinez as Mudtrooper
- Adam Lezemore as Alien
- Don Lickley as Fisherman
- Nathaniel Lonsdale as Mud Trooper
- Tyrone Love as Imperial Officer
- Chus Lucas as Snout Face
- María Jesús Lucas as Snout Face
- Mia Lysandrou as Elite Woman
- Chelsea Mather as Rebel
- Chi Mbah as Fisherwoman
- Kenny-Lee Mbanefo as Squad Leader Mudtrooper
- Ryan McCullagh as White Worm Scavenger
- Ashley McGuire as Lodge Human Trainer
- Dean McNamara as Extra
- Ker Milan as Russian Gangster
- Chereena Miller as Fort Pyso Girl
- Tommy Morgan as Deadwood Den Worker
- Feizal Mowlabocus as Dryden Guest
- Maharshi Napal as Extra
- Emily Ng as Twi'lek / White Worm Teen
- Heléna Collins O'Connor as Fishmonger
- Vanessa Ohenlen as Party Guest
- Laura Parijs as Dryden's Yacht Woman
- Pascal Perico as Spaceport Recruit
- Amala Pillai as Recruit for Army
- Marek Platek as Civilian
- Glenn Povéy as MO Man
- Daniel Prewitt as Mud Trooper
- Gaurav Prinja as Extra
- Jacqueline Ramnarine as Bar Patron
- Ivana Radjenovic as Poker Player
- Christina Richards as Girl in Deadwood Den Watching
- Tom Riverman as Civilian / Factory Worker
- Cheryl Roach as Elite Civilian
- Jessica Roberts as Extra
- Douglas Robson as Extra
- John Ruben as Ken
- Mark Ryder as Bar Patron
- Daniel Ryves as Extra
- Belal Sabir as Fisherman
- Ross Sambridge as Wookiee Slave
- Sarah-Stephanie as Dancer
- Rashid Shadat as Stormtrooper
- Atul Sharma as Dryden Guest
- Neil Alexander Smith as Guard
- Clem So as Dryden Guest
- Richard Stanley as Cutthroat Hunter at Fort Ypso
- Karol Steele as Slave
- Fran Targ as Slave
- Zuza Tehanu as Corporal Zuzanu Latt
- Steven F Thompson as Imperial Fleet Trooper
- Charlie Todd as Rebel Pilot Kane Lankost
- Klemens Niklaus Trenkle as Fort Ypso Bar Guest
- Matt Tyler as Wookiee Slave
- Swami Valentini as Extra
- Zsoly Vatany as Protocol Droid
- Robbie Waite as Civilian Traveler
- Dean Weir as Pyke Sentinel
- Ray Whelan as Marauder
- Jo Wheatley as Fisherwoman
- Michael Kenneth Williams as Dryden Vos (scenes cut)
- Stevie Williams as Extra
- Angela Yeoh as Miner