Every movie has so many moving parts and requires the collaboration of so many people that it’s honestly a miracle that these forms of entertainment get made. That said, few movies are quite the miracle as Solo: A Star Wars Story. The film was such chaos that it ended up leading to a change in directors in the middle of production, though star Alden Ehrenreich seems to have a fairly pragmatic view of the whole experience.

Ehrenreich who is part of the cast of the recent box office hit Weapons, recently spoke with Collider, and on the topic of stressful productions, he said that all movies are stressful in one way or another. It sounds like the stress of making Solo might have even been beneficial to one degree or another, as it could be channeled into the stress he needed to portray as a character. The actor said…

One has to imagine there was no lack of stress on the set of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Originally set to be directed by the duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the movie was ultimately finished by Ron Howard, who came in after Lord and Miller were unceremoniously removed from the project. It’s still far from clear exactly what the issue was beyond a general feeling that the movie Lord and Miller were making was not the movie Lucasfilm wanted Solo to be.

Ultimately, Solo: A Star Wars Story would be released to mediocre reviews and an equally mediocre box office. It’s the only Star Wars movie of the Disney era not to break the $1 billion mark at the global box office, and combined with its almost certainly high costs due to all the behind-the-scenes issues, it made the movie a money loser for Lucasfilm and Disney.

That’s not to say that there aren’t people who love the film. I think it’s actually a lot of fun. There have been efforts to make Solo 2 happen on social media, though it seems unlikely at this point that we’ll see young Han on screen again. When asked about potentially returning. Alden Ehrenreich didn’t close the door entirely, but made it clear he wouldn’t return for just any reason, saying…

I, for one, would certainly love to see Ehrenreich’s Han Solo again, and I would love to see it happen under a situation where everybody is on the same page. We certainly haven’t seen the character under the best possible conditions, and if we did, it really could be great.

Major spoilers for the first three episodes of Marvel’s Ironheart lie ahead, so you’ve been warned, true believers!

Riri Williams is back, as Ironheart finally made its debut amid the 2025 TV schedule. This week, Disney+ subscription holders were treated to the first three episodes of the limited series, and they’re packed with some significant developments. Among those plot points is the reveal of a very big connection between the show and the Iron Man mythology. Yes, Riri Williams has her own suit of armor, which mirrors that of the late Tony Stark. However, there’s an even bigger link that ties the show to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first flick.

One Of Ironheart’s Main Characters Has Ties To A Familiar Face

During the second episode, “Will the Real Natalie Please Stand Up?”, Dominique Thorne’s Riri becomes acquainted with Joe McGillicuddy, an eccentric man played by Alden Ehrenreich. Riri enlists Joe’s services when seeking out black market tech for her suit ahead of a heist with Parker Robbins’ crew. Williams and McGillicuddy form an unlikely friendship of sorts, though it’s later discovered that Joe is hiding a big secret from Riri – and it involves his deceased father.

Riri visits Joe again in the third installment, “We In Danger, Girl,” and she discovers a bag of ashes in a jar in his kitchen, and the bag is marked Obadiah S. After a bit of probing from Riri, Joe reveals that his father was none other than Obadiah Stane, the late Stark Industries exec who tried to kill Tony Stark and take his technology in 2008’s Iron Man. With that, Joe also confirms that his birth name is Ezekiel Stane.

There had long been speculation that Ironheart cast member Alden Ehrenreich may be playing “Zeke,” and those who assumed that should be patting themselves on the back right about now. Needless to say, this is a major piece of connective MCU tissue – one that may delight longtime fans of the comics and the cinematic universe. However, it’s not solely done here for fan service, as it also smartly ties into one of the series’ biggest themes.

How The Joe McGillicuddy Reveal Plays Into One Of This MCU Show’s Biggest Ideas

Ahead of Ironheart’s premiere, I assumed that the concept of legacy was going to factor into the show in a significant way, and I was right. The obvious way in which the writers do this is by focusing on Riri’s attempts to carve out her own path without the guidance of Tony Stark while also standing in his massive shadow. Before Williams are both the paths of a hero and that of a common criminal. This is something I appreciate about the show, but I’m also pleasantly surprised by how it connects to Zeke (or Joe).

Zeke makes it clear right away that he’s done his best to distance himself from Obadiah, who he knows tried to kill Stark years prior. What really makes that tough for the younger Stane internally is that to the rest of the world, “Obie” was a generous and philanthropic businessman who had nothing but altruistic ideas about technology. I not only appreciate this subplot, but I also love the dichotomy between Zeke trying to avoid Obadiah’s memory as Riri inches closer to Stark’s. On top of all that, this arc makes the MCU’s version of Zeke a bit more multidimensional, as his comic book counterpart is a straightforward villain.

Having seen all six episodes of this MCU show, I can say that Joe has an interesting arc that plays out throughout the latter half. I’m definitely not going to divulge any of those details here, so you’ll just have to wait and see what goes down. What I will do, however, is give kudos to the writers for circling back around to a classic Iron Man plot thread and finding something genuinely interesting to do with it.

Fans can watch Ironheart’s first three episodes now on Disney+, while the latter three installments will hit the streamer on Tuesday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET. Also, do yourself a favor and stay in the know when it comes to upcoming Marvel shows.

There was a time when Alden Ehrenreich looked like he was going to be one of Hollywood’s brightest new stars. He made movies with Francis Ford Coppola and then the Coen Brothers, before moving on to a major franchise project. Unfortunately, the one-two punch of the poor reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story and then COVID production delays took the actor off the screen for some time. Now Ehrenreich appears to be getting back to the place he once held, and one person who is here for it is fellow Oppenheimer cast member Robert Downey Jr.

Vanity Fair recently ran a major interview with Alden Ehrenreich titled “Alden Ehrenreich Is Back in the Spotlight—For Now”. Robert Downey Jr. posted an image of the cover story to his Instagram, with a note that makes it clear Downey believes the young actor absolutely belongs in the spotlight, and will hopefully never leave again.

It’s great to see the veteran actor Robert Downey Jr. going to bat for the 33-year-old relative newcomer. It’s certainly going to help more people take notice of Alden Ehrenreich when Downey is very visibly on his side. Downey doesn’t need to do this; he could just stay quiet if he didn’t believe what he was saying, so one has to believe that Iron Man is a Han Solo fan. Solo is a fan of Iron Man as well. In the Vanity Fair piece, Ehrenreich says that Downey took him to dinner when they first met for Oppenheimer, and from there, an actual relationship was born. Ehrenreich said…

If anybody knows whether Alden Ehrenreich is an actor who deserves the spotlight, it’s probably Robert Downey Jr. The pair don’t just appear in Oppenheimer together, as Downey is in every scene that Ehrenreich has. Downey stars as Lewis Strauss, the businessman who was President Eisenhower’s nominee to be Secretary of Commerce in 1959, Ehrenreich is a Senate aide who is helping to shepherd Strauss through the process.

Oppenheimer is just one of Alden Ehrenreich’s 2023 projects that is receiving praise. He also appeared in the Sundance movie Fair Play and Cocaine Bear. These are the first movies the actor has been in since Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2019. A large portion of that hiatus was COVID-induced, but the lukewarm response to Solo was likely part of it as well. Though many still praised the actor's performance, the movie itself is the lowest-grossing Star Wars movie of the Disney era.

Alden Ehrenreich will return to a major franchise production soon, as he will follow in the spiritual footsteps of Robert Downey Jr. and join the MCU as a member of the Ironheart cast. One assumes they’ll have a lot to talk about the next time they have dinner.  

Over the course of the past decade or so, Netflix has become one of the best places online to watch all kinds of tantalizing and thrilling sexually explicit movies and shows that pull audiences in and don’t let them out of its grasp. And in October 2023, a new title was added to that collection of steamy films with the new erotic thriller, Fair Play, a gripping drama about passion, jealousy, and the high-stakes world of hedge funds.

After watching the 2023 Netflix original movie, there is a good chance you are wondering where you’ve seen the Fair Play cast before and why those actors look so familiar. Well, worry no longer, because we’re about to break down the stars of the new flick and just about all movies and shows the actors have been a part of over the years. There are quite a few characters to break down, so let's get started.

Phoebe Dynevor (Emily Meyers)

Leading things off is Phoebe Dynevor, who takes on the role of Emily Meyers, the young and ambitious financial analyst who is forced to navigate the snake-pit that is One Crest Capital and the jealousies of her fiancé Luke Edmunds (more on him next) after getting a promotion in Fair Play.

Bridgerton fans will certainly recognize Dynevor from her portrayal of Daphne Bridgerton, later Basset, from the first two seasons of sensuous Netflix original series. Prior to joining the Fair Play cast, Dynevor also appeared in the streamer’s early 2023 original film, Bank of Dave. 

Dynevor’s credits on the small screen also include shows like Waterloo Road, Prisoners’ Wives, the Snatch TV adaptation, and Younger, to name just a few. And at some point in the future, the actress will appear alongside names like Diane Lane, Mckenna Grace, Zoey Deutch, and Kyle Chandler in Jan Komasa’s upcoming thriller, Anniversary, per Deadline. 

Alden Ehrenreich (Luke Edmunds)

Alden Ehrenreich appears in Fair Play as Luke Edmunds, Emily Meyer’s co-worker (he’s also a financial analyst at One Crest Capital) and intense fiancé whose jealousy and paranoia goes overboard after he gets passed up for a promotion.

After getting his big break in Francis Ford Coppola’s 2009 drama, Tetro, Ehrenreich found a considerable amount of success in movies like Beautiful Creatures, Stoker, Blue Jasmine, and Hail, Caesar!, working with directors like Park Chan-wook, Woody Allen, and the Coen brothers in the process. The actor is perhaps best known for taking on the role of Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. 

After not appearing on the silver screen for half a decade (he did lead the 2020 Peacock series, Brave New World), Ehrenreich landed a small yet pivotal role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast and appeared in Cocaine Bear in 2023.

Eddie Marsan (Campbell)

Next up is Eddie Marsan, who takes on the role of Campbell, the One Crest Capital founder who offers Emily the opportunity to reach the next level of her career, for better or worse.

Marsan brings with him several decades of experience to the Fair Play cast, having had had career that includes everything from massive action movies like Mission: Impossible III, the Sherlock Holmes film franchise, and Deadpool 2 to comedies like The World’s End and Happy-Go-Lucky and so much more.

He has also been a fixture on the small screen over the years. Marsan’s long list of TV appearances include spots on shows like Ray Donovan, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, The Power, and The Bill, to name only a few. 

Rich Sommer (Paul) 

Rich Sommer is another recognizable actor who shows up in Fair Play with his portrayal of Paul, one of the power-driven portfolio managers at One Crest Capital who serves as Campbell’s right hand man in all kinds of matters in and out of the office.

A permanent fixture of the Mad Men cast from start to finish, Sommer is probably one of the more recognizable actors to show up in Fair Play. In addition to playing Harry Crane all those years, Sommer has also appeared on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Elementary, GLOW, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp (as well as Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later), Love, and The Dropout.

Sommer has previously appeared in movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Hello, My Name Is Doris, King Richard, and most recently, BlackBerry. 

Sebastian De Souza (Rory)

Sebastian de Souza takes on the role of Rory, the One Crest Capital portfolio manager who always seems to be watching Emily and Luke’s every movement while they're at their high-intensity hedge fund. 

Prior to landing a spot in the Fair Play cast, de Souza spent the previous decade appearing in movies like Plastic, Ophelia, Pixie, and Kids in Love, which he also wrote. However, the young actor is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Matty Levan on the long-running British teen comedy-drama series, Skins. Other notable TV shows that have featured de Souza in one capacity or another include The Borgias, Medici: Masters of Florence, The Great, and Normal People, the 2020 Hulu original series that also featured Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. 

Sia Alipour (Arjun)

And then there is Sia Alipour, who shows up in Fair Play as Arjun, another power-obsessed portfolio manager working alongside Emily and Luke at the One Crest Capital hedge fund.

Throughout his career, Alipour has appeared on shows like Tehran, Count Abdulla, The Sandman, The Secrets to Civilization, Endeavour, and Street Fighter: Resurrection, and several others of note. His film work includes movies like Kick-Ass 2 and Backdraft 2. 

These are just some of the major power players who show up in the Fair Play cast, as Patrick Fischler and Geraldine Somerville play a role in the new thriller’s intricate story. You can see all of these actors, and everyone else who appears in the new movie, by watching Chloe Domont’s directorial debut with a Netflix Subscription, which also gives you access to thousands of other great movies and TV shows.

Stream Fair Play on Netflix.

There are long-running movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far, far away, so there’s a massive (and vocal) fanbase. Some of those fans want to see Adam Driver and Alden Ehrenreich in a Star Wars movie together, despite what challenges this might cause for the timeline. And the Solo: A Star Wars Story star has a funny take about the sci-fi idea.

Alongside the wildly successful sequel trilogy, Disney originally experimented with standalone Star Wars movies, starting with Rogue One. Ron Howard’s Solo followed quickly, with Alden Ehrenreich taking on the mantle of the title character from Harrison Ford. Some fans want to see him and Adam Driver in a Star Wars movie, which might be challenging. Afterall, Ehrenreich played a younger version of Ben Solo’s father. But the Cocaine Bear actor spoke to Esquire about that possibility, and offered a humorous way it could be done:

Honestly, sign me up. While Star Wars keeps expanding on the small and silver screens, it’s yet to produce a raunchy intergenerational comedy. But if the people keep wanting to see Driver and Ehrenreich together in the franchise, that might be the only way it could work. Not to mention that Ben Solo would somehow need to connect with a version of his father who is his same age. Is anyone’s head spinning yet?

Alden Ehrenreich was obviously kidding, and his comments point out the many roadblocks that would prevent him with sharing the screen opposite Adam Driver in the galaxy far, far away. Another is the fact that the Girls alum is likely happy to have some space away from the galaxy far, far away (although Diver isn’t opposed to playing Kylo Ren again). Then there’s Ehrenreich’s own experience, and the box office failure of Solo.

Still, it seems more possible than ever that Ehrenreich might once again play everyone’s favorite scruffy looking nerf herder. It was just revealed that Donald Glover’s Lando show is now becoming a movie, which could be the opportunity for young Han Solo to return to the galaxy far, far away. Either way that story is finally continuing, after years of fans calling for Solo 2 to happen.

Lucasfilm recently announced its plans for a trilogy of new Star Wars movies, which take place over the course of different moments in the timeline. We’re also getting the Lando movie, and Shawn Levy is still attached to helm his own installment of the franchise. So it seems like just about anything could happen.

The Star Wars franchise is streaming on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.  

There are major movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. The galaxy far, far away helped to raise multiple generations, and it's showing no signs of slowing down thanks to the various live-action shows happening at Disney+. It’s been fascinating to see how fan opinions of various projects change over the years, including the standalone films like Solo: A Star Wars Story, which has the distinction of being the franchise’s first box office disappointment. And the movie’s star Alden Ehrenreich recently reacted to his Star Wars flick getting more love in the years since its release.

Solo had a rough journey to theaters, as there was immediate fan backlash over the role being played by anyone other than Harrison Ford. And after the movie’s original directors were fired, Ron Howard was brought in to complete the project and ensure it was released on time. Unfortunately Solo struggled critically and at the box office, although calls for a sequel have gotten louder recently. Alden Ehrenreich spoke to Yahoo! about the way the public’s opinion about his Star Wars flick has shifted, saying:

Talk about a good attitude. I can only imagine how disappointing it was for Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and the rest of the gang when Solo failed to live up to expectations, resulting in sequel plans being scrapped. But he’s still touched when he meets those who liked the movie, especially young fans who are excited to meet Han Solo IRL. Give us a sequel, Disney!

Alden Ehrenreich shared his feelings about Solo: A Star Wars Story while promoting his role in Elizabeth Banks’ new comedy Cocaine Bear. Eventually the conversation turned to his time in the galaxy far, far away, which he’s likely quite used to at this point. And fans will no doubt be excited that Ehrenreich noticed how many people are defending Solo nowadays, especially when compared to its initial debut in theaters. 

The ending of Solo: A Star Wars Story definitely set up a sequel, with a few narrative threads left for fans to theorize about. The last we saw the title character, he had officially won the Millennium Falcon from Lando, and was heading to Tatooine alongside Chewie to make a deal with Jabba the Hutt. But perhaps more intriguing was the reveal that Maul was the boss of Crimson Dawn, with Qi’ra communicating with him and instructed to meet him on Dathomir. Unfortunately, we never got to watch this all play out, although Qi’ra story was expanded via the comics. 

While there’s plenty of Star Wars content coming for fans, the franchise’s future in theaters remains up in the air. After The Rise of Skywalker completed the Skywalker Saga, there haven’t been any concrete plans for the next project coming to theaters. A number of movies were announced and scrapped, while others remain in the earliest stages of development. It seems like Taika Waititi’s movie might be the first to bring the genre back to theaters, but it’s all still very up in the air.

You can see Alden Ehrenreich’s Cocaine Bear in theaters now. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The hilarious ensemble of the new comedy "Cocaine Bear," including Elizabeth Banks (Director/Producer), Alden Ehrenreich (Eddie) and O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Daveed) join CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell to discuss this absolutely ✨ wild ✨ film. Find out what they used to recreate the film’s powdery namesake, their favorite (and least favorite) stunts and more. Plus, they take a moment to remember Ray Liotta, this being his last project to hit theaters.

00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Elizabeth Banks Reveals What They Used For The ‘Cocaine’ On Set
01:09 - O’Shea Jackson Jr. Discusses The Film’s Balance of Comedy and Horror
02:26 - The Cast Discusses The Hardest, But Most Rewarding, Stunts In The Film
04:30 - Elizabeth Banks Had A Very Specific Soundtrack In Mind
05:39 - O’Shea Jackson Jr. On Working With Ray Liotta on His Last Project Ever

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Elizabeth Banks Reveals What They Used For The ‘Cocaine’ On Set
01:09 - O’Shea Jackson Jr. Discusses The Film’s Balance of Comedy and Horror
02:26 - The Cast Discusses The Hardest, But Most Rewarding, Stunts In The Film
04:30 - Elizabeth Banks Had A Very Specific Soundtrack In Mind
05:39 - O’Shea Jackson Jr. On Working With Ray Liotta on His Last Project Ever

Alden Ehrenreich is no stranger to being a part of a big franchise thanks to his work in Solo: A Star Wars Story, but apparently, the actor wanted to consult a well-known veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before he signed on for Ironheart. Who better for him to ask than Robert Downey Jr.? The MCU's original Iron Man imparted some surprising advice upon Ehrenreich ahead of the latter committing to the role. 

We still don't know anything more about Alden Ehrenreich's mystery role in Ironheart, but we do know what Robert Downey Jr. had to say to his co-star on the upcoming film Oppenheimer when Ehrenreich asked him about joining Ironheart. The actor shared RDJ's comments with THR, and the "honor" he had of introducing the Iron Man actor to Dominique Thorne as his successor: 

It's really cool to hear Robert Downey Jr. was willing and happy to talk to Dominique Thorne about effectively becoming the successor to his Iron Man via her character Ironheart, who was first seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It must feel nice to speak to the actor who was effectively the godfather of the MCU and to hear his encouragement about taking on a role, whether you're Thorne or Alden Ehrenreich. 

The idea of "microdosing" commercial and artistic projects is also interesting and probably helpful advice that could prevent an actor from feeling burnt out from doing a superhero series and possibly movies. Being a part of the MCU, even on a small scale, can open the door to a lot of roles in other Marvel projects. Having some small indie project could help any actor switch things up and work in a different genre than supehero.

Although details about his role in the MCU are scarce, Alden Ehrenreich seeking out Robert Downey Jr.'s advice could point to the longevity his mystery Ironheart character might have in the MCU. After all, why would Marvel's highest-paid actor be talking about supplementing with artistic projects if this was just a one-off portrayal? Perhaps RDJ was just speaking in broad terms, but I'm much more interested in the role Ehrenreich is playing than I was previously. 

All this news arrives just as Vin Diesel put it out in the universe that he wants Robert Downey Jr. for the Fast and Furious franchise. There's no telling what level of willingness the actor has to join that franchise, but maybe he'll be receptive coming off of Oppenheimer the advice he gave Alden Ehrenreich. I know there are a number of people who want to see him return as Iron Man, though that day may never come. 

Ironheart is coming to Disney+, and there are a lot of other upcoming Marvel shows on the horizon. Be sure to keep an eye out for official arrival dates in the coming months as Marvel drills down its definitive plans for Phase 5 and beyond. 

The Star Wars franchise is one that’s been passed down across multiple generations, resulting in a very strong love for George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. The fandom has been treated to a steady supply of content since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, including the sequel trilogy, TV shows, and a few standalone movies. Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story was in the latter category, although it ended up being the franchise’s first box office failure. But would Solo star Alden Ahrenreich return to Star Wars? Here’s the latest from the 33 year-old actor.

Actor Alden Ehrenreich had some very big shoes to fill playing the title character of Solo, and taking the mantle from Harrison Ford’s truly iconic performances throughout four films. There was some backlash before a frame from the movie was even released, and the movie’s box office performance seemingly inspired Lucasfilm to throw standalone movies out of the picture for a few years. Ehrenreich was recently asked by IndieWire if he’d still be interested in playing Han again after the fallout of Ron Howard’s Star Wars prequel, saying:

Some points were made. The ending of Solo: A Star Wars Story seemed to be setting up a burgeoning franchise, and planted a few narrative seeds for a sequel. Since Alden Ahrenreich was playing the smuggler in an origin story, he only got to be the Han we know and love at the very end of the film. And as such, he’d be down for another go in the beloved space opera.

Alden Ehrenreich’s comments about possibly playing Han again is sure to turn the heads of Star Wars fans. While Solo: A Star Wars Story failed to perform at the box office, the online chatter of fans hoping to see more of the franchise has steadily gotten louder over the years. This is partly due to the quality of other Star Wars movies, and Solo’s cliffhanger ending. After all, when else are we going to get another appearance by Maul in live-action?

Solo: A Star Wars Story seemed to have the odds against it from early on, starting with backlash about another actor taking on the role from Harrison Ford. Then there was trouble during production, where original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired and removed from the set. Ron Howard stepped in to complete the project, but it failed to deliver at the box office.

Still, the story of Solo set up a few narrative threads to pull from in the now-cancelled sequel. The final moments saw Han acquiring the Millenium Falcon from Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), and setting off to Tatooine with Chewbacca to make a deal with Jabba the Hutt. And as previously mentioned, the twist ending revealed that Maul was the leader of Crimson Dawn, and he ordered Emilia Clake’s Qi’ra to join him on Dathomir. Unfortunately it’s unclear if we’ll ever see these plot points pay off.

Star Wars’ future in the movies continues to be a mystery, although there are a few projects in the early stages of development. Instead fans will be given more live-action content on Disney+ like Ahsoka and The Mandalorian Season 3. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

In 1985, in the depths of Chattahoochee National Forest, a hunter discovered a dead 175-pound black bear who had just ingested 75 pounds of cocaine after a drug smuggler had unsuccessfully moved some drugs from Colombia to the United States. But what if this bear had just gotten super high and went crazy on locals in the forest? That is the story of the 2023 movie release Cocaine Bear. 

From Into the Spider-Verse producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who’ve previously teased how “insane” it is. The movie is also directed by Elizabeth Banks years after she helmed Charlie’s Angels comes the first trailer (you can watch above) for the upcoming horror movie / outrageous comedy. And from the looks of it, Cocaine Bear is going to be absolutely hilarious, vulgar and super gory. 

The script was written by The Babysitter: Killer Queen writer Jimmy Warden. When CinemaBlend attended a Los Angeles event for Cocaine Bear with Elizabeth Banks earlier this week, the actor/filmmaker shared her direction for the movie, saying this: 

The Cocaine Bear trailer adapts the wild piece of history with fiction as drug smugglers drop their blow in the national forest and the wild, fuzzy black bear consumes a whole block of it before causing quite the ruckus for everyone in the surrounding area. Among the cast is Solo’s Alden Ehrenreich, reteaming with Lord and Miller after his Star Wars movie, Keri Russell, Sweet Tooth’s Christian Convery and the late Ray Liotta as the movie’s drug kingpin hungry for coke after losing it in the drop gone wrong. 

Liotta’s upcoming role in Cocaine Bear is now among his final performances after the Goodfellas actor died at the age of 67 in May. Following his death, Martin Scorsese showed his regret not having worked with him again. It’ll be a treat to see the actor bring comedy to Cocaine Bear amidst the movie walking a line between ridiculousness and a slasher starring a high AF bear. 

The bear was created with the help of CGI from Weta Digital, which are the creatives behind The Planet of the Apes and Lord of the Rings movies. As the movie teases, there’s a ton of fun f-bombs, dark humor and slasher-like action as the bear gets high on cocaine and just runs wild. Cocaine Bear is set to hit theaters on February 24. 

There are popular movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away has entertained for decades, although there have been a few missteps along the way. For many Solo: A Star Wars Story is in that category, especially as it’s the only box office disappointment of the entire franchise. But the standalone film did seem to plant the narrative seeds for a sequel, especially with its ending and inclusion of Maul. Solo writer Jonathan Kasdan recently explained why he still wants the Star Wars flick to get a sequel, and it's for a reason that might surprise the fans.

Solo: A Star Wars Story was written by Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan, and offered an origin story for the title character made famous by Harrison Ford. While it seemed to be setting up the use of characters like Jabba the Hutt and Maul for a sequel, that project never came to fruition. Some fans are still holding out hope, and Jonathan Kasdan spoke to The Sci-Fi Gazette about why he’s like to see Solo 2 happen, saying:

How sweet is that? Actor Alden Ehrenreich had some very big shoes to fill for Solo: A Star Wars Story, as the title character has always been synonymous with Harrison Ford. And while some fans had a hard time watching this take on everyone’s favorite scruffy looking nerf herder, it seems like Jonathan Kasdan wanted to see more of Ehrenreich’s take on the franchise’s beloved hero. We’ll just have to see if the story is continued sometime down the line, either on the small or silver screens.

Jonathan Kasdan’s comments might surprise some Star Wars fans, who want to see Solo get a sequel for reasons related to its storyline and plot twists. And while he presumably is a fan of those too (he did write the movie, after all), the producer/writer is more invested in seeing Alden Ehrenreich back as the title character. After all, Ehrenreich likely was expecting to appear in a number of Star Wars movies, prior to Solo’s disappointing performance in theaters.

As previously mentioned, Solo: A Star Wars Story has the dishonor of being the galaxy far, far away’s only box office disappointment. While Rogue One performed well, the concept of standalone movies was largely abandoned by Lucasfilm due to Solo. Although with the Skywalker Saga officially wrapped up after the release of The Rise of Skywalker, perhaps the studio could change its mind and return to these types of projects. And that includes a long–awaited sequel for Ron Howard’s 2018 space western.

Solo: A Star Wars Story’s theatrical journey is one full of peaks and valleys. For instance, original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were removed from the project (and the set) in the midst of production. Ron Howard was brought in to complete the ill-fated movie, which didn’t end up kickstarting a franchise as folks imagined. But with the franchise’s future in the movies so up in the air, it does feel like just about anything could happen. It’s currently unclear when Star Wars will return to the big screen, as a number of projects have been announced and scrapped.

While it’s unclear when Star Wars will be back in theaters, the franchise continues expanding thanks to shows on Disney+ like Andor. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year. Just don’t expect a title related to George Lucas’ beloved franchise.

It’s been a few years since Robert Downey Jr. closed out his stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and fans said goodbye to his version of Tony Stark. The actor has since moved onto different projects, and the biggest on his list is arguably Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which has a stacked cast. Seriously, this flick has a number of notable stars, including Alden Ehrenreich. Well, as fate would have it, the star is now set to join the MCU himself through Ironheart, and a part of me is hoping he was able to get the Iron Man vet’s digits. 

Alden Ehrenreich is set to play a key role in Marvel’s Ironheart show, according to Deadline. But to no one’s surprise, the studio is keeping details on his character as close to the vest as Tony Stark kept his Iron Man technology. What can be said, though, is that this is a major gig for Ehrenreich, who’s amassed a few high-profile credits over the past several years. He’s probably most recognized for playing the lead role in Disney and Lucasfilm’s Solo: A Star Wars Story - a prequel centered on Harrison Ford’s iconic character. 

Though the 32-year-old actor has experience with a major franchise, the prospect of entering the MCU has to be a bit daunting. So you have to wonder whether he and Robert Downey Jr. got on a first-name basis while working on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film. If they did, it would certainly behove the Hail, Caesar! alum to reach out, especially since he’ll be dealing with a corner of the franchise that involves Downey's character. 

We only know a few things about Marvel’s Ironheart at this point. The key fact that prospective viewers should know is that it’ll introduce the character of Riri Williams to the MCU. In the comics, Williams was established as a prodigy who creates her own version of the Iron Man suit in her college dorm room.

Dominique Thorne, of Judas and the Black Messiah fame, is set to play Riri Williams on the show, and the new Marvel hero will make her debut in Black Panther 2 beforehand. Anthony Ramos has also joined the MCU show in a key role. This series has also tapped This Is Us alum Lyric Ross, who is reportedly playing Williams’ best friend. Production on the show is reportedly underway in Atlanta, where filming is said to have kicked off in early June.

Alden Ehrenreich is certainly one of the more underrated talents in Hollywood right now, and the idea of him joining the superhero genre is very exciting. I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to get in touch with Robert Downey Jr. should he require any advice. Though if not, I’m sure the star will be able to manage things just fine on his own.

A release date has yet to be announced for Ironheart but, when it does arrive, it’ll be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. Be sure that you have one of those and that you stay in the know when it comes to other upcoming Marvel shows.

There are some movie characters so iconic and so strongly tied to the actor who plays them that to recast them with anyone else would be sacrilege. Although many examples of this kind of role exist in the Star Wars universe, that has not prevented such an event to happen to its most beloved characters many times.

However, luckily, many of the Star Wars characters who have been recast have been blessed with people of tremendous talent to carry the weight -- and sometimes to even greater heights than ever before. See for yourself with our favorite examples of live-action characters from a galaxy far, far away who are credited to more than one actor, starting with one who is making a huge comeback with his own series.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness, Ewan McGregor)

We first met Obi-Wan Kenobi years after the fall of the Jedi Order in the original Star Wars: A New Hope from 1977, in which he was played brilliantly by Academy Award winner Alec Guinness. Playing his younger self from padawan to master would be Ewan McGregor, whom fans would cite as one of the best reasons to watch the Prequel Trilogy and later welcome his return on the Disney+ original series Obi-Wan Kenobi with open arms.

Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, Vivian Lyra Blair)

One of Ewan McGregor’s most impressive co-stars on Obi-Wan Kenobi is Bird Box’s “Girl” actor Vivien Lyra Blair, who gives a surprisingly entertaining and heartfelt performance as 10-year-old Leia Organa, who has been kidnapped by the Empire in order to lure the titular Jedi out of hiding. Star Wars fans are very familiar with the character, originally portrayed by the late Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Leia starting from the beginning of the Star Wars saga, up until her final performance in 2017’s The Last Jedi.

Owen Lars (Phil Brown, Joel Edgerton)

Another Star Wars prequel trilogy veteran reprising his role alongside Ewan McGregor on Obi-Wan Kenobi is Australian actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton as Luke Skywalker’s uncle, Owen Lars. The Tatooine moisture farmer would meet a devastating end at the hands of the Empire in the 1977 original film, in which he was portrayed - opposite Mark Hamill - by Phil Brown. Brown also starred in franchises like the Superman movies and one of the Pink Panther sequels, but would always be best known as Uncle Owen.

Beru Lars (Shelagh Fraser, Bonnie Piesse)

Playing Owen Lars’ wife, Beru, was English actress Shelagh Fraser, who gives one of the most heartfelt performances in Star Wars: A New Hope despite her modest amount of screen time. Of course, Bonnie Piesse had even less screen time and less to say as a teenage Beru, but is still a memorable presence in the prequels due to the importance of her role, which is why she has also makes a return on Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Mon Mothma (Caroline Blakiston, Genevieve O’Reilly)

Another actress with a modest amount of screen time in the Prequel Trilogy (namely 2005’s Revenge of the Sith) is Genevieve O’Reilly as the future leader of the Rebel Alliance, Mon Mothma, whom she would reprise in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Originating the role was Caroline Blakiston, whose screen time was also quite brief in 1983’s Return of the Jedi, but still memorable and iconic enough inspire such an enduring legacy.

Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison)

A character whose legendary status vastly outweighs his screen time is the mysterious bounty hunter Boba Fett, who was first physically played by the late Jeremy Bulloch in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and voiced by Jason Wingreen in the former movie. We met Boba as a young boy in 2002’s Attack of the Clones, as played by New Zealand-born actor Daniel Logan, and his father, Jango, played by fellow New Zealander Temuera Morrison, who would go on to assume the fan-favorite role himself on The Mandalorian and on his own Disney+ miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett. Morrison's Boba has also been heard in Empire instead of Wingreen's since the 2004 edits to the Original Trilogy.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Sebastian Shaw, Jake Lloyd, Hayden Christensen, Spencer Wilding)

A Star Wars veteran making, arguably, the most exciting return on the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast is Hayden Christensen as the Sith Lord formerly known as Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader - a role he also shares on the series with James Earl Jones, who has voiced the iconic villain since the beginning. David Prowse would usually wear the suit, save when Sebastian Shaw played a reformed, unhelmeted Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi and when Spencer Wilding donned the costume in Rogue One. Jake Lloyd played a very young, uncorrupted Anakin in 1999’s The Phantom Menace before Christensen took over the role to play him as a Padawan and, later, a Jedi Knight in the final two prequels.

Emperor Palpatine (Clive Revill, Marjorie Eaton, Ian McDiarmid)

Younger Star Wars fans likely just know Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, but those who experienced the original trilogy in its prime remember how different Darth Vader’s boss first looked and sounded in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back when his holographic image was physically portrayed by Marjorie Eaton and voiced by Clive Revill. The role was recast for 1983’s Return of the Jedi with McDiarmid, who went on to reprise him in the prequel trilogy and 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker and was added into the 2004 re-release of Empire.

Han Solo (Harrison Ford, Alden Ehrenreich)

To Star Wars fans of any generation, Han Solo is and always will be Harrison Ford, who was still working as a carpenter when his American Graffiti director George Lucas cast him as the captain of the Millennium Falcon in the first Star Wars. However, the Academy Award nominee himself was said to be very impressed by Alden Ehrenreich’s performance in the title role of 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, which traces the outlaw’s origins from serving the Imperial Army to winning his famed ship in a poker game from another familiar face.

Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams, Donald Glover)

One would assume that no one else could ever play Lando Calrissian - the mayor of the Cloud City and old friend of Han Solo (despite pronouncing his name wrong) - with as much charm and charisma as Emmy nominee Billy Dee Williams. However, Emmy and Grammy winner Donald Glover proved that was not the case by absolutely nailing his portrayal of the smuggler-turned-resistance leader while he still owned the Millennium Falcon in Solo. 

Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew, Joonas Suotamo)

Another actor who would portray a legendary original Star Wars character was Joonas Suotamo, whose tenure as Han Solo’s Wookiee friend and co-pilot, Chewbacca, began when he shared the role with its originator, the 7’3” Peter Mayhew, in 2015’s The Force Awakens. The Finnish basketball player took over the role completely for 2017’s The Last Jedi and reprised him in Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, but the first name fans still associate Chewie with is Mayhew, who sadly passed away at the age of 74 in 2019.

On second thought, there could come a day when Joonas Suotamo is celebrated for his portrayal of Chewbacca just as strongly as Peter Mayhew, just like how Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness are equally praised for their respective performances as Obi-Wan Kenobi. In a franchise as endurable as Star Wars, a dizzying rotation of different people in the same part eventually becomes a necessity, so each actor should be held to the same fair standard. Therefore, in my book, there is not just one Lando, or one Boba Fett, or even one Han Solo (and I say that as a huge Harrison Ford fan), but a wonderful assortment of different depictions to revisit time and time again. 

Warner Bros., in 2023, will bring us back to a world of pure imagination with Wonka, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel exploring the origins of its reclusive chocolate-maker and how he built his vast fortune with his extravagant factory. Directed by Paul King (Paddington 1 and 2) and written by Simon Rich (An American Pickle), the studio is on the lookout for who can play the titular part, made iconic by the late, great Gene Wilder. Any young actor who adopts this role has mighty big shoes to fill, as Johnny Depp will attest, but there are several actors who could shine here.

Currently, Tom Holland and Timothee Chalamet are reportedly being sought. While both are fine picks, there are some other performers who strike my fancy more. Admittedly, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is my favorite film, so I have a lot invested here. With that said, here are some strong contenders for this proposed prequel.

Donald Glover

When this prequel was initially announced, there were three big-name actors reportedly considered: Ryan Gosling, Ezra Miller, and Donald Glover. In my view, all of them were promising prospects, but the one choice that seemed the most exciting was the latter. The Community actor-comedian is one of the most dynamic talents working today, particularly as he continues to thrive as a musician, and a producer-writer-director on Atlanta, to boot. He's capable of being buoyant, but introspective and reserved. His acting depths only continue to grow, and Wonka would prove the vastness of his well-versed talents.

While he keeps a lower profile nowadays, Donald Glover's star power is undeniable, and he can capture Willy Wonka's spunky heart, while also channeling his child-like giddiness and mysterious aura. He'd be my ideal choice.

Adam Driver

While Adam Driver is known for his brooding, turmoil-driven performances in Girls, Marriage Story, The Report, and the new Star Wars trilogy, the high-rising Oscar-nominated actor is capable of delivering a wealth of distinctive, engaging characters — if he's given the chance to cut loose and have fun. Whether it's his scene-stealing supporting turn in What If?, his soulful leading role in Paterson, his kooky character work in Logan Lucky, or even his surprisingly wacky performances on SNL, Driver has proven himself to be a dependably, well, driven performer with a variety of characters in him. If he had the chance to shine inside the lead role of Wonka, we could get a better look at how silly he can be.

Certainly, there's more to Willy Wonka than his dry sense of humor or his sporadic sensibilities. Adam Driver has demonstrated a great flair for playing oddballs who constantly surprise and delight. Certainly, Wonka could be a marvelous showcase for his comedic skills.

Ryan Gosling

Of all the actors originally proposed to play Willy Wonka, Ryan Gosling interests me the least, if only because I prefer his smaller, more intimate performances compared to his studio fare. But, there's something to be admired in how Gosling could bring in the gentle sensitivity of Gene Wilder's original performance, in a way that isn't forced or overbearing. Gosling's facial features can capture a demurred inquisitiveness and casual wonder that would play well into Wonka's wondrous spirit. Ultimately, as one of the oldest actors here, he might not be the right fit anymore. But he could easily capture Wonka's dry wit and unsuspecting heart.

Ezra Miller

Certainly the most intriguing option of the three actors initially listed, Ezra Miller could definitely channel the eccentric wit and rambunctious spirit of Wonka's public persona. Their talent for playing characters both outlandish and introspective would also be vital in capturing the inner life of this hard-to-read factory-owning personality. Miller can play both broad and calculating, which would create the dynamism of this off-beat title character, though their commitments to other WB properties like the DCEU, where they play The Flash, and the Fantastic Beasts franchise may prevent them from committing. Not to mention difficulties in their personal life.

Daniel Radcliffe

As Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe has major clout at Warner Bros. While there are reportedly concentrated efforts to return to the wizarding world of Hogwarts (and possibly reboot the series), it's hard for audiences to see anyone other than Radcliffe in the role. He literally grew up before our eyes with that performance, and nearly all of his recent efforts (many of which are quite good) are deliberate attempts to shake off this image. Perhaps the best way to move past Harry Potter is to let Radcliffe play another iconic character altogether with Wonka.

While Daniel Radcliffe's talents weren't always natural, he has progressed into a very fine young actor, particularly with outstanding performances in Imperium, Miracle Workers (also written by Simon Rich), and, most especially, his transformative turn in Swiss Army Man. Radcliffe has developed a knack for cheeky performances with a wily sense of humor, while also showcasing dependable dramatic chops. This role could suit him well, and allow him to progress beyond his past performances.

Logan Lerman

Logan Lerman is due for his big break. First coming to fame with Percy Jackson, those movies never reached the Harry Potter-level heights they sought. He won a lot of hearts with his sensitive performance in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but since then, he hasn't had a chance to branch out as far as he should. He did good work in Fury, Noah, Indignation, and, most recently, Shirley, but it'd be nice to see him capture that radiant spark in his earlier work. While he might not be considered for Wonka, his underdog spirit makes him a good fit.

The heartful sincerity he brings to his best performances is a great asset, and his understated talent for dry humor and reflective charm makes him an endearing pick. Aided by his boyish features and good-natured grin, Wonka would be a good way for Logan Lerman to finally make it big.

Dylan O’Brien

Following Teen Wolf, Dylan O'Brien has tried discovering his next step. His lead performances in the underseen The First Time and 2020's Love and Monsters were praised, while he did solid work in wobbly projects like The Maze Runner trilogy, American Assassin, and The Internship. Clearly, the actor has a pleasant, appealing screen presence that shines on screens big and small, but O'Brien hasn't progressed into superstardom. It's clearly within reach, though, and Wonka could showcase his star power.

With his affable charm, flexible talents, and capable screen presence, as well as his unsuspecting ability to surprise, Dylan O'Brien has what it takes to make a good Willy Wonka. His boyish grin and happy-go-lucky on-screen personality would work wonders if it's done right. Also, O'Brien always brings a great deal of heart and sincerity to his performances, which could make the title character's vibrant inner life shine.

Alden Ehrenreich

Admittedly, the last time Alden Ehrenreich starred in a high-profile prequel, it didn't work out — financially, at least. Yes, for many moviegoers, Ehrenreich is best known for Disney's troubled and underperforming Solo: A Star Wars Story, though the movie's faults don't belong to the young talent. The actor had the tough task of honoring Harrison Ford's beloved space-based scoundrel while also finding his own rhythm with the character. Alas, while the balance wasn't perfect, Ehrenreich brought lots of warmth and charisma, and his other performances outside of this notable leading role vividly demonstrate the wealth of his acting prowess.

Notably, Alden Ehrenreich is a standout in Beautiful Creatures, Blue Jasmine, and even the underwhelming Rules Don't Apply, but it's his Oscar-worthy supporting role in the Coen brothers' underrated Hail Caesar! that solidified his up-and-coming talents. Alas, Hollywood hasn't served him well, but this prequel could be the iconic role he needs to excel.

Janelle Monae

When Wonka was first proposed, one name that was thrown around wildly was Janelle Monae. And I admire that choice immensely. Monae's dynamic charisma and strong acting talents make her a performer with a continuously-impressive career. While she focuses primarily on music, Monae's scene-stealing supporting turns in Hidden Figures and Moonlight were promising starts to a thriving acting career.

Alas, while Antebellum didn't showcase her talents, Wonka would be an incredible opportunity for the exceptional musician/rising actress to shine in this star-worthy leading role. She's capable of playing up Wonka's heart, humor, and extravagance, and having a performer as incredible as Janelle Monae involved would really justify this movie's seemingly-needless existence. Will it happen? I dunno, but she should absolutely be considered.

Dev Patel

Over the years, Dev Patel has showcased a flair for playing passionate, good-hearted men going against the odds to make a name for themselves. Whether it's Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, or 2020's The Personal History of David Copperfield, the British actor excels in leading roles that let him play underdogs who discover their passion, dreams, or enthusiasm for life. Certainly, if this prequel studied Willy Wonka's rags-to-riches adversities in the midst of greatness, Patel has proven his capability in that type of role. Additionally, Patel could really sell Wonka's warmth, too.

Notably, Dev Patel's work in David Copperfield is some of his finest yet, nailing the whimsical and lyrical comedic-dramatic tone. While the movie itself isn't without faults, Patel's vibrant, bewitching performance hits with gusto. If he brought that same winning spirit, he could play Wonka's tenacity well.

Who's your pick? Tell us below!

This poll is no longer available.

The Star Wars franchise is one of the most popular in history, with entire moviegoers brought up on George Lucas' colorful galaxy far, far away. Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the franchise has greatly expanded through the sequel trilogy, small screen content on Disney+, and a pair of standalone movies. Solo: A Star Wars Story was the last of those movies, with Ron Howard stepping into complete the project and reveal Han Solo's origin story. And now the filmmaker has shared the great Harrison Ford's reaction to the movie.

Actor Alden Ehrenreich had some majorly big shoes to fill with Solo: A Star Wars Story, as the character was previously played to pitch perfection by the iconic Harrison Ford. While Solo failed to perform at the box office, it turns out that Ford himself was a fan of the project-- as well as Ehrenreich's performance as the nerf herder. As Ron Howard recently shared,

Well, there you have it. Because while Harrison Ford isn't known for keeping up to date on every single twist of the Star Wars franchise, he was able to appreciate the work done in Solo. Specifically, he gave his stamp of approval on Alden Ehrenreich's performance, which had its own mixture of swagger and heart. It's just not clear if we'll ever return to that burgeoning franchise.

Ron Howard's story about Harrison Ford comes from his recent appearance on Lights, Camera, Barstool podcast. Ron Howard stepped in to complete Solo: A Star Wars Story after original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller departed the project. It was quite the task which was met with a somewhat tepid reception from the fandom. But the OG Han was apparently happy with the standalone movie's contents.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is currently streaming on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Including his brief role in The Rise of Skywalker, Harrison Ford played Han Solo for a whopping five Star Wars movies. As such, the fans were nervous about seeing Alden Ehrenreich stepping into the role. He managed to embody the future Rebel leader while not doing an impression of his predecessor, and it seems Ford gave his thumbs up.

It's been interesting to see Solo: A Star Wars Story's life after its release. Ron Howard's movie was the first box office disappointment of the franchise, which originally seemed to put the kibosh in any plans for a sequel. But Solo has gotten more love in the years since, with many still hoping to dive back into the world of Star Wars' gangsters. So perhaps it'll end up happening one day.

Narratively, Solo was definitely doing a bunch of world building for future sequels. The movie's end saw Emilia Clarke contact Darth Maul, who was revealed to the leader of Crimson Dawn. Additionally, Han and Chewie took off on the newly won Millennium Falcon for Tatooine to seek out Jabba the Hut. Unfortunately, we'll just have to wait and see if those plans ever become a reality.

The Star Wars franchise is continuing to expand thanks to The Mandalorian on Disney. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Thanks to a director change in the middle of production, mediocre box office performance and pretty good but not great reviews, the narrative surrounding Solo has been consistently negative or at least tinged with negativity. That doesn’t sit right with Alden Ehrenreich. He knows the movie didn’t do as well as other entries in the Star Wars catalog, but he thinks the media perspective was still far too negative.

The actor recently talked to Total Film and reflected on his experience working on Solo. The whole process apparently took him three years and was an “amazing adventure”, but that doesn’t mean every feeling he has about the movie is warm. The lack of nuance surrounding the reporting on the film still bothers him. Here’s a look at part of his quote…

It’s definitely true that the media tends to polarize not only the good and the bad but also everything in between. When it comes to Solo, there’s a lot to look at; so, let’s separate the conversation into box office and general perception. The first is box office. Was the media unfair to Solo by calling it a box office failure? Well, it’s certainly fair to call it a disappointment. The film was reportedly made for $300M according to Deadline. The film grossed a total of $392M and change worldwide. When you factor in marketing costs and percentage theaters keep, especially overseas, there’s no way the film made its money back theatrically (if the budget numbers are accurate). That being said, when you throw in home entertainment and life it’s getting out of streaming services and merchandise and what not, Solo was definitely not a disaster. It wasn’t what I’m sure Disney hoped, but sometimes that happens.

Now, when it comes to the narrative surrounding the film’s quality, I think Ehrenreich has a much stronger point. There were some who felt the movie shouldn’t even be made in the first place, and many of those who were optimistic or willing to give it a chance soured pretty quickly when original directors Lord & Miller left the project during production. Ron Howard was brought in to stabilize the ship, but that didn’t change the hew of pessimism that tinted almost all coverage of the film in the leadup to its release. The film ultimately got 70 percent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Personally, I think it’s a lot of fun. Most people who I know who have seen it are at least luke warm, but the negative perception exists among many who haven’t watched it even to this day.

Fortunately for both Ehrenreich and the movie itself, that negative perception is starting to change at least a little bit. Many fans are discovering or rediscovering the movie on Disney+, and the reaction seems to be generally positive. The actor has felt that in some conversations with fans, and he’s really thankful for it. Here’s another quote from his Total Film interview…

Ultimately, there’s a big difference between a movie that is a failure and a movie that didn’t quite do as well as hoped. I think it’s accurate and fair to say all involved wish Solo had connected with fans a little more and made a bit more money, but I also think it’s accurate and fair to say Ehrenreich is correct is his implication that many covering the movie were unfairly negative. The media too often acted as if the Millennium Falcon had crashed when really its Kessel Run time was just a little slower than everyone hoped.

Despite mixed reviews, Solo: A Star Wars Story managed to strike a chord with many fans of the franchise. The film was, of course, led by Alden Ehrenreich, who managed to put his own spin on the iconic character. However, there are sure to be some who’ve wondered what the film would’ve been like with a younger Harrison Ford at the helm. Well, thanks to a newly created deepfake video, fans now have an idea, and the results are honestly impressive.

A YouTuber none as Shamook recently posted a deepfake video that replaces Alden Ehrenreich’s face with Harrison Ford’s in several key scenes of Solo: A Star Wars Story. And while there have been some incredible deepfakes in the past, this one may be one of the best. But don’t just take my word for it. Check it out for yourself down below:

The change may seem a bit jarring at first glance but, after watching a few scenes, Harrison Ford’s face seems quite natural. And to be honest, it kind of makes one want to see an entire movie done in that way.

And it’s also interesting that Harrison Ford isn’t the only one to get the deepfake treatment int this video, as Donald Glover is also replaced by Billy Dee Williams in the role of Lando Calrissian. While this change doesn’t feel quite as natural compared to the Han Solo switch, it mostly works. And it’s to deny that one does get a kick out of seeing the two together on screen.

If anything, this video is sure to get Solo fans even more pumped, as they’ve already been campaigning for a sequel to the spinoff film since its release in 2018. Many fans have even gone as far as to pitch ideas for the movie online and make appeals as to why it should happen. As far as we know, Disney and Lucasfilm have no immediate plans for a sequel. One of the film’s writers has even confirmed that sequel is unlikely to happen on Disney+.

A sequel would also depend on the inclusion of stars like Ehrenreich, Glover and Emilia Clarke. Ehrenreich has spoken on a potential sequel and said that his return would depend on the strength of the story.

Solo did leave things pretty open-ended for the lovable rogue and his allies, so the possibilities are endless. However, it remains to be seen if things actually take off.

One thing we do know is that if there is a sequel to Solo, neither Harrison Ford nor Billy Dee Williams will be superimposed onto the younger actors’ faces. Nevertheless, we still have this cool video to keep us entertained while we await word on any potential, future projects.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is now available to stream on Disney+.

It's more than fair to say the last few Star Wars movies have been polarizing and controversial, though while they may not be as universally popular as other Star Wars entries, they have their fans. This is especially true in regards to Solo: A Star Wars Story, and while the movie failed to impress Disney at the box office, there have still been calls from fans to see a sequel get made.

Unfortunately, it appears that any plans for a sequel movie are not in the works. That doesn't mean it'll never happen, though, so for anyone wondering if that day should come, here are some great reasons to push and advocate for Solo 2 to get made.

We Need More Star Wars Movies Without Jedi

Jedi are the lifeblood of the Star Wars franchise, but they aren't the only entertaining thing about this universe. And yet, time and time again Star Wars leans on its ancient order of protectors that continually pop up despite being driven to near-extinction. The reality is that it takes more than one Jedi to end a war, yet the ones with lightsabers are often given the lion's share of the credit!

To be fair, it's not like Han Solo was some major advocate for the Rebels prior to A New Hope, as he was just trying to get by – not that there's anything wrong with that, and, really, it would be nice to see more adventures where the stakes don't necessarily determine the fate of the entire galaxy and the ultimate battle between good and evil. It's hard to do that when that's seemingly every move a Jedi makes on their journey, so I'm fine with seeing more smuggler antics while Star Wars figures out how to make Light and Dark Side conflict interesting again.

There's An Opportunity To Bring Back Jabba The Hutt

One of the most exciting prospects of a Solo sequel is the ability to bring back Jabba The Hutt. In the original trilogy, Jabba sent bounty hunters after the smuggler because he had dropped a shipment to escape a bad situation, and in the process lost Jabba some money. Whether that incident occurs before or after Solo 2, there's an option to incorporate Jabba The Hutt in the sequel if not especially because the role has already been teased.

The prequel trilogy tried its best to bring back Jabba, but if we're being honest, it was too soon. CGI technology just wasn't there to effectively recreate him, and even the latest attempt to clean up that deleted scene in Star Wars: A New Hope isn't up to today's standards. In 2020, the technology is there, or at least there exists the budget to do another proper animatronic Jabba. Jabba The Hutt is one of the coolest creatures of the Star Wars movies, and bringing him into the next story would be a major motivator to anyone on the fence about a sequel.

The Cast Of Solo Is Pretty Great

There's something to be said about the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story when examining the overall quality, featuring a lineup including Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Paul Bettany in addition to Alden Ehrenreich. This movie pulled some sizable star power, and I think there's an argument to be made the core of this cast would only continue to grow in popularity with each successive movie. That's usually a good thing for franchises, especially ones that are already part of major money-making franchises.

To be perfectly candid, Alden Ehrenreich never got an appropriate amount of praise for his portrayal as Han Solo. It takes some skill to not only play an iconic character, but also an iconic character portrayed by an equally iconic actor. Ehrenreich managed to pull it off, and even if you think he did fine, that's still saying a lot more than you can for any actor bringing an original character to life. Solo 2 would have the audience past the adjustment hump of seeing Han Solo not played by Harrison Ford, and Ehrenreich would have the opportunity to shine even brighter.

It's A Rare Opportunity For Chewbacca To Get A Lead Role

Chewbacca has never gotten as much credit in Star Wars as he's deserved. It started with missing out on a medal after the Death Star's destruction, and unfortunately Chewie has always been relegated to essentially lurking in the background since. In Solo, he got a chance to be a real part of the story, and it stands to reason that would only continue to be the case in future Solo movies.

Even if Chewbacca has to play the second banana, it's still far more attention than he has gotten as a character in past Star Wars movies. Chewie is a great character with a rich history outside of the movies in the expanded universe material, and while I get it's a challenge to give meaningful arcs to a character who can't speak galactic basic, I think R2-D2 has gotten more overall screen time than him. Solo sequels are one of the only logical ways to expand his part in the franchise, so make it happen and we can cross our fingers that a screenwriter will figure out how to give Chewbacca a great arc.

There's Rumored To Be A Lando Show That Would Help Expand The Story

Lando Calrissian may not be the biggest fan of Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, but canon tells us these two will have a long and somewhat complicated friendship ahead of them. Disney may be on the fence about another Solo movie, but there's rumored to be talks of Donald Glover doing a Lando series for Disney+, and developing Solo 2 could potentially help further support that venture.

If rumors turn out to be true, a Lando show could be the way to drum up support for the Solo sequel if nothing else will. Worst case scenario, perhaps there can be some way the world of Solo can live vicariously through the Lando series with the rogue smuggler as a supporting character. Perhaps the middle ground would be to tease more Solo stories in the rumored Lando show with mini-arcs, just to gauge and see if the interest is still there for another movie to be made.

Theres Unresolved Drama With Qi'ra

One of the biggest cliffhangers in Solo: A Star Wars Story is the reveal that Han had a serious relationship with Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra, and that she was working for a crime syndicate. The way Qi'ra and Han went their separate ways at the end was really awesome, and it also set up for a Solo sequel that we have not yet seen – which would presumably end with some real heartache for the titular lead. At least that's what we can assume, as we never really learned why Han was so eager to get back out in space and away from Leia after the war.

There is something really cool about the fact that Solo tries to build that former romance, and in doing so it made Han a lot less one-dimensional as a character than he was previously. Honestly, it's the thing I'm most looking forward to seeing resolved in a Solo 2, and not seeing it resolved is the thing that would me most sad if a sequel never happens. I need to see what happened with Qi'ra, what became of her, and where things ended with her and Han.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is available to stream on Disney+. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more on whether or not a sequel will ever happen, and for the latest news happening in the world of movies and television.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

It's no secret that Star Wars is one of the most beloved properties in film history. And when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, a bevy of new projects were brought to theaters, expanding the galaxy far, far away in the process. This includes standalone films like Solo: A Star Wars Story, which featured Alden Ehrenreich as the title character famously played by Harrison Ford. Unfortunately Solo had a troubled set, and was ultimately a box office disappointment when it hit theaters in 2018. Any plans for a sequel were seemingly scrapped as a result, but would Ehrenreich ever return to the franchise to play Han again?

The casting search for Solo: A Star Wars Story was infamously massive, but Alden Ehrenreich managed to stand out among the crowd and land the role as the scruffy looking nerf herder. Ehrenreich had the gruff swagger of his predecessor, so some fans are eager to know if he'll return to the iconic space opera sometime in the future. The 30 year old actor recently addressed this possibility, saying:

It looks like there are a variety of factors that would need to fall into place in order for Alden Ehrenreich to reprise his role from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Because while he might be contracted by Lucasfilm for multiple appearances, the actor believes the right story, vision, and crew would be needed ahead of his return. Fingers crossed that Solo 2 finally becomes a reality.

Alden Ehrenreich's comments to Esquire make a great deal of sense, considering how disappointing his first Star Wars experience likely was. He was facing an uphill battle from the start, attempting to play a role so iconically played by Harrison Ford in four major appearances in the franchise. And unfortunately for Ehrenreich, the casting process was only the first difficulty that would plague Solo: A Star Wars Story.

The Skywalker Saga and Solo are all streaming on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the new streaming service.

In the midst of the standalone movie's filming, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired by Lucasfilm, and removed from the set. The great Ron Howard came in to complete Solo in time for its intended theatrical release, but the final product failed to connect with audiences and critics alike. Solo also marked the Star Wars franchise's first box office flop, making history for all the wrong reasons.

Narratively, Solo: A Star Wars Story definitely set itself up for a sequel. Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra took a leadership role in the Crimson Dawn, and set off to meet Darth Maul on Dathomir. As for Han Solo, he and Chewie departed for Tatooine in order to meet Jabba the Hut for a new smuggling job. The return of Maul and Jabba was an exciting prospect for the fandom, but there's no telling if that vision will ever come to fruition.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Star Wars as more details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Solo: A Star Wars Story may not have left the biggest impression on the storied franchise, but it did earn a small, devoted fanbase that not only loved it but has also been clamoring for a sequel. One of the things many seemed to be relatively positive on was Alden Ehrenreich’s performance as the lovable smuggler. Of course, he was one of the many actors in contention for the role and, now, we’ve learned that one of the stars of Netflix’s Outer Banks was also in the running for the part.

Chase Stokes, who plays John B on Outer Banks, has revealed that he could’ve landed the role of Han Solo. According to the actor, he made it pretty far into the process before Lucasfilm opted to cast Alden Ehrenreich:

It’s worth mentioning that Alden Ehrenreich wasn’t quite that old when he was tapped for the part. The actor is currently 30 years old, meaning he was only 28 when the film was released and even younger when he tested for the role.

One can understand why the 27-year-old Chase Stokes, who revealed the news during a video chat with his castmates on a BuzzFeed YouTube channel, would’ve been in contention for the role. He definitely looks the part, and through Outer Banks, he has proven to have a level of charisma.

However, Stokes didn’t have too many acting credits under his belt when he was first auditioning for Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ehrenreich, on the other hand, had already appeared in TV shows like Supernatural and CSI and films like Blue Jasmine and Hail, Caesar!. Taking this into consideration, the studio probably wanted someone with a bit more experience and a face that was a bit more familiar to audiences.

Regardless of how the decision was made, it would seem that things turned out well for Chase Stokes, as he’s now leading the cast of a Netflix series. By not getting cast in Solo, he also dodged the production problems that plagued the film during its shoot. The film did find its footing, but the road to get there did seem uncertain at times.

It’s interesting to think about what Chase Stokes would’ve done in the role, as he and Alden Ehrenreich seem to have different styles of acting. But admittedly, this may only feel this way due to the fact that they’ve done different kinds of projects. Nevertheless, it seems Ehrenreich simply embodied Han Solo just a bit more.

If you haven’t seen Solo: A Star Wars Story, you can stream it on Disney+.

After 15 seasons, Supernatural will soon come to a close. With that much time on air (dating back to when The CW was still The WB), Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) have many adventures to look back on and, with that, many familiar faces who may not have been so familiar when they made their appearance on the series.

Perhaps you remember the time 1980s music icon Rick Springfield played a rock star possessed by Lucifer himself, or The Exorcist star Linda Blair’s spot as as a skeptical police detective, or even when Paris Hilton dabbled in self-mockery as a demon-possessed version of herself. However, do you remember seeing Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard on Supernatural, or maybe Emmy-winner Sterling K. Brown?

These are just two celebrities who would eventually take Hollywood by storm, but not before landing a gig on the extremely popular fantasy adventure series. There are 11 others we had in mind to mention.

Alden Ehrenreich (Ben Collins)

Playing a younger version of Harrison Ford’s iconic space pilot in the 2018 prequel Solo: A Star Wars Story made Alden Ehrenreich a household name. More than a decade earlier, the then 15-year-old actor made his screen debut on the second ever episode of Supernatural, called “Wendigo,” as Ben Collins, a young man looking for his missing older brother in a Colorado forest with his older sister, Haley (Gina Holden). Sam and Dean, while posing as park rangers, agree to help them on a hunch that the sibling may have been killed by the titular mythical creature.

Sterling K. Brown (Gordon Walker)

From his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role on the hit NBC drama This Is Us to his brief, yet memorable, appearance Eric Killmonger's late, Wakandan born father in Black Panther, Sterling K. Brown has become one of the most versatile, sought-after actors today following a career spanning nearly two decades. One of his earlier roles was a guest spot in Season 2 of Supernatural as a Gordon Walker, a vampire hunter who has it out for Sam Winchester. Brown would reprise the character for a three-episode arc the following season, that saw him become the very creature he despised and ended with Sam beheading him.

Lauren Cohan (Bela Talbot)

In one attempt to find the Winchester Brothers, Gordon Walker interrogated their on-and-off ally, con artist Abbie Talbot (better known as "Bela"), played by Lauren Cohan. The British-American actress would eventually become a master at battling monstrous creatures after joining the cast of The Walking Dead in its second season, but her first recurring role on Season 3 of Supernatural saw her employed by monstrous creatures years after making a deal with a demon in her teens. Despite occasionally turning good to help Sam and Dean, her redemption moment came to a bitter end after betraying the brothers, costing her whatever protection they could have provided once her devilish bargain expired and allowing her soul to be taken by Hellhounds.

Finn Wolfhard (Jordie Pinksy)

While still a teenager, Finn Wolfhard has earned the title of his generation's most prolific "scream king," from playing Richie Tozier in both It films, starring in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and, of course, his breakout role on Stranger Things. Yet, the Canadian actor's first association with the horror genre began a year before he was cast on the hit Netflix series as a guest star on Supernatural. In the 2015 episode "Thin Lizzie," Wolfhard plays Jordie Pinsky, whose father was the victim of a murder which took place at the childhood home of alleged murderer Lizzie Borden, now re-opened as a bed and breakfast, and Sam and Dean are convinced that primordial being The Darkness, which they just call "Amara" (Yasmeene Ball), may be involved.

Leslie Odom Jr. (Guy)

In one of his first TV gigs, Leslie Odom Jr. starred in a wedding episode of Gilmore Girls, which was Jared Padalecki's first major TV gig. Coincidentally, the future Hamilton actor's sole appearance alongside Padalecki on Supernatural is the Season 7 episode literally titled "Season Seven, Time for a Wedding!" The nuptials in question are between Sam and his obsessed fan Becky Rosen (Emily Perkins), which Dean correctly assumes is the work of some sort of black magic and eventually discovers Becky sold her soul to a crossroads demon named Guy (Odom Jr.) in exchange for Sam's love.

Dylan Minnette (Danny Carter)

As a protagonist in 2016 thriller Don't Breathe and the Netflix original horror flick The Open House, Dylan Minnette tends to play a lot of characters who enter places that they should be staying away from. In fact, this reputation dates back even years before he landed a lead role on hit drama 13 Reasons Why when the then 13-year-old starred in a Season 4 episode of Supernatural. In the episode, called "Family Remains," Minnette plays a young member of the Carter Family, who have just moved into a house in Nebraska, only to come across Sam and Dean, who have reason to believe their new home is haunted.

Ashley Benson (Tracy Davis)

After breaking out as Hanna Marin, a meek protagonist of Pretty Little Liars, in 2010, Ashley Benson's next big role would be the not-so-meek Brit in Harmony Korine's controversial thriller Spring Breakers. Yet, before either of those projects came her way, the model/actress also played quite a "hellraiser" (more literally speaking) in the Season 4 Halloween episode of Supernatural, in which she starred as Tracy Davis, a 600-year-old witch performing human sacrifice to resurrect the evil demon Samhaim (actually pronounced correctly in the episode). However, Sam and Dean do not figure that out until after they initially try to protect her from evil art teacher Don Harding (Don McManus), who actually turned out to be her brother.

Gary Cole (Brad Redding)

What helps Gary Cole stand out among the rest of the of the actors on this list is that, by the time he landed his guest spot on Supernatural, he had pretty much already established himself as a prominent onscreen presence, especially as Bill Lumbergh, cinema's quintessential boss from hell, in the classic 1999 comedy Office Space. Of course, the fact that his Season 2 appearance has certain thematic parallels to that iconic role only makes it more worth mentioning. In "Hollywood Babylon," Sam and Dean pose as production assistants to infiltrate a supposedly a haunted movie set, but Brad Redding, a bullish producer played by Cole, turns out to be one of more antagonistic characters they encounter, until he falls prey to the real on-set evil.

Katie Cassidy (Ruby/Lilith)

Although she is best known today for playing Laurel Lance (a.k.a. Black Canary) on Arrow, Katie Cassidy does have a place in horror movie royalty (so to speak) for her roles in the modern day remakes of When a Stranger Calls and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Her proudest moment within the genre would more likely be her recurring role on Supernatural, for which she actually got to play characters. Starting off as the first known human vessel of Ruby, a demon who becomes a frequent ally to the Winchester Brothers and love interest of Sam, Cassidy's character's body would eventually be taken over by a white-eyed demon named Lilith, who is most definitely not an ally to the Sam and Dean, but used her new appearance to insidiously achieve their trust.

Aldis Hodge (Jake Talley)

In Leigh Whannel's 2020 update of The Invisible Man, Aldis Hodge plays James Lanier, a police officer who falls prey to the manipulation of his friend's evil ex-husband. In the two-part Season 2 finale of Supernatural, he played Jake Talley, a US military officer who possesses the ability to manipulate others with mind control as a "Special Child," but that did not stop him from falling prey to the wishes of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, Azazel, and become one hell of an obstacle for Sam and Dean. Jake eventually becomes entirely consumed by his demonic side, becoming instrumental in the unleashing of the Apocalypse.

Felicia Day (Charlie Bradbury)

Felicia Day has earned a bit of a "geek goddess" reputation among her cult followers for years, from starring on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eureka, her recent regular role on Netflix's Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival, and plenty more beloved projects. Among those programs, undoubtedly, is Supernatural, on which she starred as skilled computer hacker, and LARP enthusiast, Charlie Bradbury, whom Sam and Dean treat as the "sister [they] never wanted." Her Season 7 debut would only be Day's first appearance on the series and would later appear as Charlie's evil side as well as an alternate version of the previously murdered character originating from an apocalyptic dimension from which Dean transports her to the main Earth.

Jared Keeso (Matt Harrison)

It is impossible to imagine Jared Keeso as anyone other than Wayne, central character of the hilariously surreal comedy series Letterkenny, which he also created. Believe it or not, however, the Canadian actor had a career before the Hulu exclusive series, which includes a brief guest spot on the second season of Supernatural in which he plays Matt Harrison, the unfaithful boyfriend of Angela Mason (Amara Zaragoza), and her first victim after she resurrects from the dead as a vengeful zombie. He is actually just one Letterkenny actor to have had a guest spot on Supernatural, given a lot of it is filmed in Canada, including Nathan Dales, Kaniehtiio Horn, and Tyler Johnston.

Cory Monteith (Gary)

Another actor who made one of his first TV appearances in the second episode of Supernatural (like the previously mentioned Alden Ehrenreich) was Cory Monteith, who played a camper named Gary who becomes a victim of the Colorado Wendigo. Years later, the Canadian actor would achieve great success as a high school athlete balancing sports with a love for performing arts on the hit musical series Glee. Unfortunately, his role was tragically cut short when he passed away at 31 due to a combined overdose of alcohol and heroin.

For more information and updates on Supernatural, as well as more A-listers who made early appearances on your favorite shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Now that a full year has passed since Solo: A Star Wars Story hit theaters, fill-in director Ron Howard is sharing his nuanced take of what went right and what went wrong.

He jumped into the mix late in the game, after the departure of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The box office for the May 2018 movie was huge for Ron Howard, but disappointing by Star Wars' standards, and he knows that. However, he came in eager to help the team, and had a blast in his short experience in the galaxy. A year later, there's even a big push for Solo to get a sequel.

Here's part of Ron Howard answer on whether a Christmas release for Solo would've given it $100 million more than its spring release.

Ron Howard had more to say on that topic on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, but I like his take on core Star Wars fans vs. "tagalongs" -- or casuals -- who wait to see if a movie becomes a major watercooler topic before jumping in with their own time or money. Casual fans sometimes wait for strong reviews from critics (Solo's reviews were middle-of-the-road) but even more often they wait to see fan reactions. They want to hear the buzz, see the audience ratings, scores, and word-of-mouth. (Think Venom.)

When the audience scores for Solo looked lower than usual, and words like "underperformed" and "disappointing" started coming out about the ticket sales, casual/tagalong fans might've come away thinking it was a movie they could safely skip. (The problems behind-the-scenes probably left more than a few fans expecting disaster, making them more wary to spend time and money on the movie.)

Here's more from Ron Howard on that angle, and how "trolling" from fans who hadn't even seen Solo yet may have led the tagalong types to pass on seeing Solo in the theater. Howard knows the pushback against Solo came from several different directions, but also included some Star Wars fans who were upset with Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Yeah, Rotten Tomatoes has actually changed the audience score function now, wanting more proof that fans have actually seen the movies before they rate them. Non-fans could rate a movie "0" before it even came out, but that is changing now.

Ron Howard isn't too familiar with that online world, but he said some friends from Silicon Valley explained the algorithms to him and basically let him know Solo was being trolled by fans who were boycotting its existence, in addition to those who did actually watch the movie and just didn't like it. Howard praised young Han Solo star Alden Ehrenreich, who was put in the center of the fray, and noticed the backlash has turned more in favor of the movie a year later:

Ron Howard already responded, briefly, to the Solo sequel campaign on Twitter. Is it likely to happen? Maybe. Probably not. The point seems more to show support for the movie, which was clobbered from all sides last year for disappointing the franchise. Now the quieter core fans are speaking up to say they liked Solo, thank you very much, and they would be happy to see the story continue.

Now Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in the hot seat, as the final movie in the Skywalker Saga, but also the next trilogy movie after Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which divided a fandom that has been debating the merits of every new Star Wars addition since the arrival of Ewoks. The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters December 20.

You'd think getting cast in a Star Wars movie would be one of the most exciting things that could happen to an actor. It turns out that's only sort of true. While Alden Ehrenreich was certainly thrilled when he learned he'd been cast as Han Solo, the actor reveals during a roundtable discussion on the Solo: A Star Wars Story Blu-ray that his excitement was muted by the fact that he wasn't really able to tell anybody. While Ehrenreich says he did tell his family, due to the secrecy involved, he couldn't broadcast his success, resulting in him having a very quiet, and quite lonely, celebration, all by himself. According to Ehrenreich...

This is sort of heartbreaking. Here's a guy who has just won the biggest break of his career, he's going to take over one of the most iconic roles in cinema history, and he has to go ride roller coasters by himself because he can't tell anybody why he's celebrating. I mean, roller coasters are fun and you can totally have fun on them by yourself, but they are absolutely more fun with friends.

Such is the state of modern movie marketing, however. Studios have plans for how and when every new piece of information is released, and that includes major casting decisions. Because Lucasfilm wanted to wait to tell the world, the actor couldn't talk about it. It's one thing when you have to keep your mouth shut about spoilers, but in this case, the guy just wanted to revel in his success, and that wasn't going to happen for quite some time. The decision to reveal Alden Ehrenreich's casting was apparently already set for three months away, specifically, the official unveiling took place at Star Wars Celebration in 2016. Although, the actor's casting had been rumored for several weeks prior to that. One wonders if some of his family spilled the beans.

I hope that after the announcement was made he went out to a nice dinner or went to Disneyland and rode all the rollercoasters with his best friends. When you're Han Solo, you can probably get into Disneyland whenever you like. There's going to be a new Millennium Falcon ride there soon too.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is now available on Digital and Blu-ray.

Major spoilers ahead for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

It's been a very exciting year for Star Wars fans. While Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi broke the rules and subverted fan expectations, the galaxy far, far away became even larger through Solo: A Star Wars Story. The franchise's second standalone film helped to expand the backstory of original heroes like Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca. But final moments of the third act featured a surprise character: Darth Maul. The Phantom Menace and Clone Wars villain brought the film's most shocking moment, and it turns out that not even the cast knew he would be included. This includes Han himself, as actor Alden Ehrenreich explains it,

Despite leading the film as Harrison Ford's signature smuggler, Alden Ehrenreich's comments to ET indicate he didn't even know that former Sith Lord Maul would end up being Qi'ra's secret boss. It's probably the one twist that Star Wars fans hadn't predicted, which is why Maul's appearance was so damn magical in theaters. After all, didn't he get chopped in half during The Phantom Menace?

Darth Maul made his debut in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the mostly wordless apprentice of Darth Sidious. While the character wasn't especially dynamic, he had a double edged lightsaber and participated in one of the greatest duels in Star Wars history.

Solo marks the first time Darth Maul has been seen in live-action since his debut film. But fans of the extended Star Wars media like the Clone Wars and Rebels will know that Maul survived his duel with Obi-Wan, and had a long and hateful life led by revenge. Sounds like typical Sith behavior, no?

Maul's appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story, complete with his robotic legs, is presumably teasing very big things for the franchise. With Qi'ra moving up in the criminal underworld and working alongside the former Sith master, Solo is hopefully setting up either a sequel, or a new standalone movie based on the seedy underbelly of the Galactic Republic. Both of the franchise's spinoff movies have worked well despite being void of Jedi action, so there's plenty to mine from within the galaxy far, far away.

Qi'ra and Darth Maul's continued partnership can be explored in quite a few different movies, now that Disney has begun rapidly expanding the Star Wars universe. Solo 2 seems like a logical option, although Han seemed ignorant of The Force during A New Hope. There's also Rian Johnson's trilogy of Star Wars movies, the upcoming films from Game of Thrones creators D.B Weiss and David Benioff, or new standalone movies. As long as Maul's appearance doesn't end up being a glorified easter egg, the fans should happy to see the terrifying Zabrak villain once again kicking ass on the big screen.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is in theaters now. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

As is customary for any Star Wars movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story is riddled with references and cameos to other Star Wars movies. Some of these vary in size and recognizability, but I think that even the most casual of audience members had to have noticed the movie's biggest surprise cameo: Darth Maul. The former Sith apprentice is revealed at the end of the movie to be the actual leader of the criminal organization, Crimson Dawn, and beckons Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) to his location. It was a big surprise for Star Wars fans, and likely an even bigger surprise for people who last saw Maul getting cut in half 19 years ago in Star Wars: Phantom Menace.

With his red skin and horns, people likely recognized Maul from his one other live action appearance as one of the coolest things about the prequel trilogy, but that just means they were probably totally lost as to how he can still be alive in Solo. Well, Star Wars is a multimedia franchise spitting out new stories every year, and it's there that Darth Maul was officially brought back to life in the animated TV show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, thanks to his popularity and fan demand. However, Darth Maul has been on quite the journey since then, and even his inclusion here could be raising the eyebrows of fans who are in the know.

Maul's inclusion in Solo, based on when the movie takes place in the Star Wars timeline, makes sense, but it takes some serious tracing to get to that point. Let's start off with where most fans last saw Maul: Getting cut in half by a Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and falling down one of those big endless metal pits that seem to be in every building in Star Wars. However, as it is revealed in Clone Wars, Maul did not die from this wound. His hate and anger kept him alive, and he was able to use the Force to escape through an air vent, eventually landing in a trash container heading for the junkyard world of Lotho Minor.

Darth Maul spent the next several years living in the bowels of the planet and eventually his rage and grief drove him mad, forgetting all else save for his desire for vengeance against the Jedi and Obi-Wan. Mother Talzin, leader of the Nightsisters (a group of dark Force witches) and Maul's mother, learned that her son was still alive and sent his brother, Savage Opress, to find him. Savage tracks down Maul to Lotho Minor and finds his insane brother, now with robotic spider legs. Savage brings Maul back to their home planet of Dathomir, where Talzin uses dark magic to restore Darth Maul's sanity, and give him some more human-looking robot legs.

Now back to full strength, Darth Maul sets about getting his revenge against Obi-Wan and the two have a couple of clashes, with Obi-Wan winning and Maul escaping to fight another day. Wishing to gain more power, Maul begins to amass alliances within the criminal underworld, forming his own organization called the Shadow Collective and makes contact with Death Watch, a group of Mandalorian (a planet of Boba Fetts) extremists. Maul takes control of Death Watch and the entire planet of Mandalore, igniting a planet-wide civil war. This attracts the attention of Obi-Wan, who arrives to take Maul off the throne. Unfortunately for Obi-Wan, Maul comes out the winner here, killing Duchess Satine, a woman that Obi-Wan loved, right in front of him.

However, Maul's increased actions also attract the attention of his old master, Darth Sidious. The future emperor sees Maul as a "rival" and personally arrives to destroy him. Sidious, Maul, and Savage have a really awesome two-on-one fight that ends with Sidious killing Savage, and allowing Maul to escape because he still has mysterious plans for his former apprentice.

Moving in chronological order, this is the last on-screen appearance of Maul before he shows back up in Solo as leader of the Crimson Dawn. Lucasfilm has yet to reveal how he goes from A to B, but you can bet that story will be told one way or another. There are some comics and unfilmed episodes from Clone Wars that help continue Maul's tale, but they mostly detail his further battles with both the Jedi and the Sith, eventually ending in the Sith destroying the Shadow Collective and putting Maul on the run. So, at some point, Maul manages to get back on his robot feet and start a new criminal organization, but the trouble is that we already know how this story ends.

While Darth Maul's appearance in Solo would seem to signify that Lucasfilm is teeing him up for future use in a live-action format, we have actually already seen the end of Maul's story in Star Wars Rebels, the spiritual sequel to Clone Wars that takes place a few years before A New Hope. Maul resurfaces in Rebels, now as a half-insane elder and definitely not still the leader of an underworld organization. He's spent an undisclosed amount of time (likely several years) stranded on the planet Malachor looking for an ancient Sith weapon. Rescue comes in the form of Ezra Bridger, a young member of the Rebellion and Jedi-in-training who Maul manipulates into helping him find a Sith Holocron, which is basically a magic USB drive with Sith knowledge on it.

Maul would continue to have more encounters with Ezra and his friends, each time with Maul attempting to prey on Ezra to join him as his apprentice. Soon enough, Maul gets what he needs from Ezra and finally learns what he's wanted to know for so long: the location of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maul travels to Tatooine and finally confronts an older Obi-Wan. The two have one last brief battle, with Obi-Wan ending Maul's life in a single stroke. The two share a poignant moment before Maul finally dies for real in the arms of his worst enemy.

Basically, we know the beginning, first half of the middle, and the ending of the story, but there's still a big chunk missing. Maybe Darth Maul's cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story was just meant to be something fun for the fans, but the writers have indicated that it was meant to be more than just fan service. It seems like a safe bet that Maul's story will be told, but the jury is out if it will be as a comic, TV show, or a movie. Even if they do nothing with it, it was still pretty awesome to see Maul on the big screen again.

Want to see where Maul's path leads? Watch this incredible face-off with Obi-wan Kenobi from a recent episode of Star Wars Rebels.

Warning: this article contains some MASSIVE spoilers for Solo: A Star Wars Story! You've been warned!

If there's one thing that Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story definitely does, it's that it expands the Star Wars franchise lore and Han Solo's relevance to that lore. In that regard, one of the biggest reveals in the entire film comes with the revelation that Han's last name stems from the fact that he has no family or "people." I recently had the chance to ask Han actor Alden Ehrenreich how he felt about that game-changing revelation when he saw it in the script, and he explained that he loved how the writers were able to piece together these smart character moments based on the existing mythology. Ehrenreich told me:

As shocking as the reveal was for many fans, Alden Ehrenreich loved it when he saw it. The concept of Han's name stemming from his lack of a true home feels firmly rooted in the lore, and the actor appreciated the attempts to tie everything back into the original trilogy in meaningful ways.

Want a closer look at my chat with Alden Ehrenreich about Solo: A Star Wars Story? Take a look at a clip from the interview, below!

Of course, the reveal of Han Solo's name is only one of many different seeds that get planted and fleshed out in Solo: A Star Wars Story. In addition to the character's new title, the film also explains the origins of his trusty blaster, his relationship with Chewbacca, his ownership of the Millennium Falcon, his rivalry with Lando Calrissian, and his willingness to shoot first in a life or death situation -- among many, many others. Now, with Alden Ehrenreich reportedly contracted for more films as the beloved Corellian smuggler, we will have to wait and see what other facets of Han's personality they can expand upon as this corner of the galaxy far, far away continues to evolve.

On that note, if you want to see the story of how Han Solo got his name, then make sure to catch Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is currently in theaters. Beyond that, if you want more in-depth information about the latest Star Wars spinoff movie, then check out our full review of the film as well as our comprehensive To 3D guide. Looking ahead to next year, mark your calendars and start gearing up for the December 20, 2019 debut of J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode IX.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Solo: A Star Wars Story! You've been warned!

With the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, audiences have finally had the chance to see how Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) gets his hands on the Millennium Falcon. The Corellian smuggler wins the famous vessel from Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) in a game of Sabacc, but something about his victory raises several questions that the Star Wars franchise will have to answer. Specifically, the knowledge that Lando's beloved L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is now part of the Falcon makes Han's victory feel like kind of a mean-spirited move, and we're left to wonder who the Falcon truly belongs with, Han or Lando.

Let's get ourselves up to speed. Solo: A Star Wars Story covers a lot of ground for Han's backstory, and the film ends with him winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando after preventing Calrissian from cheating yet again. The spinoff frames Han's win as a triumphant moment, but it's worth remembering that Han takes the ship fully aware of the emotional toll that Lando paid during the movie, and the genuine love he felt towards L3. With such an emotional connection between Lando and the Falcon, it leaves us seriously convinced the ship may actually belong to him, and that Han's decision to take it feels a bit like a dick move, even by Han's standards.

That's not to say that Han doesn't make a strong case for why he should own the Millennium Falcon. For starters, Lando does put up the ship in the Sabacc game, and Han does win it fair and square. Moreover, Han shows just how good of a pilot he is at several points in Solo: A Star Wars Story's narrative, even legitimately making the Kessel Run in record time.

Of course, it's also worth mentioning that we do have some insider insight into this situation, as well. Specifically, CinemaBlend asked Donald Glover if Lando Calrissian should get the Millennium Falcon back in Star Wars: Episode IX and the actor acknowledged that enough time might have passed that it doesn't belong to Lando anymore. Glover explained

That said, Donald Glover's remarks still don't entirely answer the question of whom the Millennium Falcon should've belonged to this whole time. Lando's love of L3 makes a strong case that he should've kept it, while Han's pure skill as a pilot clearly shows that it ended up in capable hands. This debate could potentially rage on for years, so give us your take on the matter in the poll, below!

Solo: A Star Wars Story is currently in theaters. If you want a more in-depth look at what we thought of the movie, then take a glance at our full review. Beyond that, make sure to check the film out and start getting ready for the December 20, 2019 release of Star Wars: Episode IX!

This poll is no longer available.

The Star Wars franchise is going back in time to explore an earlier version Han Solo when Alden Ehrenreich inherits the role from Harrison Ford in Solo: A Star Wars Story this weekend. That said, we already know that Han's life has been full of adventure, and it raises the question of whether or not future films could take Han to other eras of his life by aging up Ehrenreich. However, as the actor explained to CinemaBlend in a recent interview, he's wary of using that technology to play an older Han. Alden Ehrenreich told us:

So, it seems that you shouldn't hold your breath waiting to see Alden Ehrenreich looking ten or even twenty years older. Though the technology to bring him closer to Harrison Ford's visage definitely exists, he generally seems wary of its use because audiences can tell when filmmakers employ it.

Despite Alden Ehrenreich's hesitation to immediately get on board with this particular technology, it's clear that he does have a deep appreciation for what the folks at Disney can do with computer-generated effects these days. As we saw with the de-aged Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi, as well as the digitally-recreated Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the use of these techniques has slowly seeped into the Star Wars franchise as a whole. However, he merely needs to take a closer look at the technology and see it move beyond something that people directly point out and marvel at in a movie.

Want a closer look at our chat with Alden Ehrenreich? Check out a clip from our Solo: A Star Wars Story interview, below!

Of course, there's always the possibility of just letting time run its course, anyway. Alden Ehrenreich definitely shares some notable physical similarities with a young Harrison Ford, so if he sticks around in the role long enough, then the technology might not even be necessary. We just have to let time do its magic, and the 28-year-old actor could eventually match the look and feel of Ford -- who was roughly 34 years old when A New Hope debuted.

Although we still don't know if we will ever see Alden Ehrenreich play Han Solo in the later years of the beloved smuggler's life, we will get to see his origin story this weekend when Solo: A Star Wars Story premieres on May 25. If you are on the lookout for more in-depth analysis of the film, then check out our full review of the movie, as well as our review roundup to see what other critics have to say about it!

The Star Wars franchise is one of the biggest properties in the world, which means secrecy is vital in the development of the films. That was definitely the case with Solo: A Star Wars Story, and it sounds like the audition process that got Alden Ehrenreich the highly-coveted role was pretty intense. In fact, the actor recently spoke out about the process of becoming Han Solo during his audition, and admitted that he was forced to read alongside a dog puppet. The 28-year-old actor explained:

That doesn't sound like the most authentic Star Wars experience to get Alden Ehrenreich ready to play Han Solo, but it makes plenty of sense. The folks behind Solo: A Star Wars Story needed to keep everything related to the film a secret, which meant not revealing anything about the nature of the scenes, the character designs, or the overarching story. To hammer that idea home, the Hail, Caesar! auditioned with a dog puppet to stand in for Chewie, and according to the actor's remarks to BBC Radio 1: the doll apparently did a pretty good job.

This is not the first time that we have learned details about the rigorous and bizarre process that eventually led to the casting of Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo. In fact, back when Phil Lord and Chris Miller were attached to Solo: A Star Wars Story as the film's directors, Miller spoke out about the process and compared it to an athletic event. Miller explained:

Solo: A Star Wars Story will finally hit the big screen later this month on May 25. Make sure to check it out when it debuts and take a look at our review of the latest Star Wars film, as well as our review roundup to see what critics are saying about it.

Following up Harrison Ford in the role of Han Solo has to be a nightmare. They are, comparatively, the largest shoes to fill in the Star Wars universe. And while Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have all come back to play their iconic roles in new Saga movies, no one has attempted to play the characters that these legends CREATED in a separate movie... until now. If Alden Ehrenreich was feeling any pressure to play Han Solo, it just tripled when Ford himself walked in on an interview and basically took over.

Alden Ehrenreich and the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story were busy all weekend promoting the upcoming movie at a press junket in L.A., and as a part of that, the star was sitting down with Entertainment Tonight when, according to the above Tweet, Ron Howard snuck into the room and surprised his lead with the last man to play Han Solo. "Get out of my chair," Ford barks, in his traditional gruff timber. It sounds so much like "Get off of my plane" that I basically stood up out of the chair I was sitting in, just in case Harrison Ford could see me.

The original Star Wars stars have been coming out in support of this new generation of actors, whether it be Billy Dee Williams coming to the red carpet to stand with Donald Glover, the new Lando, or George Lucas coming to the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story to see what has become of the characters he created. But the sight of Harrison Ford begrudgingly passing the baton to Alden Ehrenreich is heartwarming... even if the gruff icon tells the kid to "Get out of my life!" Somehow, Ford makes that sound sweet. Sort of. At least he follows it up with a hug. He means well, right?

We're anxious to see how Alden Ehrenreich does as Han Solo when Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on May 25. The early word was positive on the movie, with people at the premiere saying Solo is a lot of fun, even if it takes a few minutes to find its legs. (And if Donald Glover's Lando overshadows Ehrenreich's Han in the long run.) It will be interesting to see if Star Wars fans embrace this line of storytelling, leading to potential sequels with young Han and Chewbacca.

To stay up to date on all Upcoming Star Wars movies, bookmark our guide.

The Stars Wars franchise is currently moving forward at full speed, and the galaxy far, far away is about to get even bigger. Solo: A Star Wars Story will arrive in a matter of days, heralding in the second standalone movie for the beloved property. Solo will bring the fandom to a new moment in the overall timeline of the galaxy, and reveal how characters like Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca meet for the very first time. The friendship between Han and Chewie has never really been explored before, including how it is that the smuggler understands Wookiee language. Now it appears that Alden Ehrenreich learned a few choice Wookiee phrases throughout the course of Solo. As he tells it,

While not exactly fluent, it looks like Solo's young star has at least dabbled in speaking Wookiee. If nothing else, this is an indication of how seriously everyone involved in Solo took the standalone movie. There seems to be a great attention to detail, which will hopefully positive affect the finished product.

Alden Ehrenreich's comments come from his recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The host is a pretty big Star Wars fan, so he got to geek out with the actor tasked with taking on the role from Harrison Ford. Han Solo is the undisputed fan favorite of the franchise, so Ehrenreich has some big shoes to fill. But his active interest in speaking the Wookiee language is something Ford probably never took on, so he's got one thing going for him.

The focus on the Wookiee language in Solo: A Star Wars Story further indicates that Chewbacca will be a major role in the standalone film. While Chewie has been a character in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, he's been mostly kept to the sidelines of the action. The current trilogy is placing more of a focus on the new characters, with OG supporting heroes like Chewie and C-3PO crafted into smaller features.

But Solo should change this, revealing a slightly younger Chewbacca who is meeting the likes of Han Solo and Lando Calrissian for the very first time. The origin of Chewie's friendship with Han has been vaguely mentioned throughout the franchise, and this will be the very first time we see it in live-action. The movie will also likely contain the famous Kessel Run, and may even contain a role for Boba Fett. While we'll have to wait a few more weeks for the truth, early reception for Solo has been fairly positive.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will arrive in theaters on May 25th. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

It's been a pretty good year at the box office so far, thanks to movies like Black Panther doing better than expected, as well as some tentpole movies like Ready Player One and Rampage hitting theaters a bit earlier in the year. May, specifically, should be a big month for moviegoers, as Avengers: Infinity War is still doing traffic, while the likes of Deadpool 2 and Solo: A Star Wars Story are still coming up. Speaking of the latter, tickets went on sale for the upcoming Star Wars film last week, and those involved with the movie are now making the rounds to talk about the experience of making Solo: A Star Wars Story. Alden Ehrenreich was recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he explained exactly what happened that time he met Harrison Ford about playing Han Solo. According to Ehrenreich, he was given some interesting advice, also noting the actor may not have been super on the up and up about what was happening,

On the one hand, this sounds exactly like something Harrison Ford would say about Star Wars, a property he was never that enamored about to begin with. On the other hand, if you've been keeping tabs on the story of Alden Ehrenreich and Harrison Ford meeting, the perspective has been that the meeting was a very important one. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy even went so far as to say the conversation between Ford and Ehrenreich went "beautifully," noting,

At the end of the day, two things can be true at once, and to his credit, Alden Ehrenreich has also said that Harrison Ford was "supportive" and that it was "just cool" to eat lunch with the famous actor. That doesn't contradict the funny story he told on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which included a key piece of advice --albeit hilarious advice -- Ford gave him. Ehrenreich also told the late night host he got to hang out with Ford and his planes before they headed off to lunch, so it sounds like they did spend a good chunk of time together the day they met.

One other impression that Alden Ehrenreich got of Harrison Ford during his sitdown with the famous actor was about his long-documented dislike of ewoks. According to Ehrenreich,

Even if the advice Ford gave wasn't the "beautifully" put advice Kathleen Kennedy has previously touted, it still probably gave Alden Ehrenreich a good sense of Harrison Ford as a person, and that is a beautiful thing. You can take a look at the full interview, below.

In addition, Solo: A Star Wars story is out on May 25. You can take a look at everything we know about the upcoming Star Wars flick, or just check out our movies schedule to see your other options in May.

With Disney now in charge of the iconic Star Wars franchise, the galaxy far, far away is getting much bigger. In addition to the current trilogy and Rian Johnson's still developing set of movies, the property is also utilizing standalone films as a way to tell unique stories. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story changed the game by bridging the gap between the prequels and A New Hope, and soon Solo will arrive to bring younger versions of the original heroes to the silver screen. Actor Alden Ehrenreich is taking on the mantle of Harrison Ford's signature smuggler, and original directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord have explained what helped him land the gig. Miller recently revealed how the actor's sense of humor and range of emotions helped him get the role of Han Solo.

Chris Miller's comments prove how he and former co-director Phil Lord really thought out who the character Han Solo was at his core. While he may seem brash and arrogant at first, Han has a hidden vulnerability that comes out for his loved ones like Leia, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca. And aside from being a bad boy with a heart of gold, the smuggler also ultimately has to be funny.

In the same conversation with Esquire, Phil Lord also spoke to the complexity of Alden Ehrenreich's character, saying:

The mixture of classic and contemporary is a particularly powerful statement, given the pressure associated with Solo: A Star Wars Story. While fans are eager to see their favorite scruffy looking nerf herder back on the silver screen, Alden Ehrenreich has some huge shoes to fill. Han Solo is the undisputed fan favorite character of the Star wars franchise, so attempting to capture the same mixture of machismo and heroics is quite the task.

While the Star Wars franchise is a beloved property passed down from generation to generation, the franchise does seem to be a more contemporary place since Disney took the reigns. The comedy and dialogue in the last few films have a sensibility that feels very now, while still including all the classic aspects of Star Wars that fans are expecting. If Alden Ehrenreich is able to properly mix the past and present for his interpretation of Han Solo, he should be in good shape. Funny enough, there doesn't seem to be much concern over whether or not Donald Glover can pull of Lando. Childish Gambino's got it like that.

All will be revealed when Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a film that many are curious about, not because it's the next Star Wars movie, but because it's the product of two different directing teams trying to make a single film. This meant that the actors and the rest of the crew had to deal with two, potentially very different, styles of directing as they tried to produce the film. Now, star Alden Ehrenreich has spoken out about what it was like for him, as he started working with a pair of directors who were looking to experiment, although it turned out the experiments weren't necessarily what others were looking for. According to Ehrenreich...

Many of the rumors that came out during the transition away from Phil Lord and Chris Miller implied that the directing duo was working fairly slowly, and letting the actors do a lot of improvisation. While the actor says he was clear about what his directors wanted from him, so much of what a movie becomes is done after filming that it's hard for him to really know what others saw simply based on his performance. It's also possible that Ehrenreich's comments to Esquire are meant to hit back at the reports that Lucasfilm had such a problem with his performance that an acting coach was hired. He's making it clear that his performance was what was expected of him, even if that didn't come through in what the studio saw.

As far as what happened when Lord and Miller were let go, Alden Ehrenreich was as surprised as anybody. While he was aware that had been some disagreements between the directors and the studio, he didn't have any visibility to the details. He admits it was emotional for him, as the three of them had worked closely together, and since Lord and Miller had been the ones to cast him, he felt a strong connection to them.

With all that went on behind-the-scenes, there are a lot of questions about how Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to turn out. We'll finally know the answers May 25.

About a month from now, we will finally get the second spinoff film in the Disney era of Star Wars. Solo: A Star Wars Story will take audiences back to the formative years of smuggler-turned-hero and cinematic icon, Han Solo. Taking on the unenviable task of playing the role popularized by Harrison Ford's performance is actor Alden Ehrenreich. But just because this is a spinoff film, doesn't mean that it's necessarily one and done for Alden Ehrenreich's Han Solo. In fact, the actor is signed on for more than one film. How many? This was his answer when asked:

Well if it wasn't public before, Alden, it is now. While speaking with Esquire, Alden Ehrenreich let the cat out of the bag that he is signed on for three films, precisely two more than we are currently aware he will be starring in. This is quite interesting and raises some questions about Disney's plans for the Han Solo character and the standalone films moving forward. Does this mean that Solo: A Star Wars Story is the first chapter in a trilogy, or will young Han Solo show up in other Star Wars Stories or non-saga films? There are a lot of interesting permutations to this, so let's break it down.

It was a long casting process to find the young Han Solo, and the number of actors looked at was in the quadruple digits. Han Solo is at the core of Star Wars so it makes sense that Lucasfilm would want to go through such a process to find the perfect actor and then lock him down once it did. The first possibility of this three-film deal is simply that Disney and Lucasfilm wanted to sign Alden Ehrenreich on for multiple films just in case they decided they wanted to use the character in something else down the line. Multi-film contracts are common in franchise films such as this. For example it was reported that Felicity Jones' contract had an option for an appearance in another Star Wars film, and spoiler alert, her character was ash at the end of Rogue One.

Now that those business reasons are out of the way, let's speculate about some other possibilities. Han Solo is a fan favorite character, so it would be unsurprising to hear that Lucasfilm has a Han Solo trilogy in mind. Or maybe it plans to set several spin-off/stand-alone films in the era between Episode III and Episode IV, giving plenty of opportunities for Alden Ehrenreich's Solo to show up even if he isn't the main attraction. He could play a part in a bounty hunter movie or show up in the much-desired Lando movie. Depending on where Lucasfilm wants to go with the standalone films, there are lots of places where Alden Ehrenreich's Han Solo could be used.

Let's assume for a second that the three-film deal was struck with a Han Solo trilogy in mind. Why hasn't Disney announced it? This is where we get into the public behind-the-scenes trouble on Solo: A Star Wars Story. True or false, right or wrong, lots of that consternation has centered around Alden Ehrenreich's performance, and for some, the trailers have yet to dispel such fears. Perhaps Disney is waiting to see how well Solo does and how audiences respond to Alden Ehrenreich's portrayal before making any decisions or announcing any future Solo movies.

We'll see Alden Ehrenreich's charming smuggler soon as Solo: A Star Wars Story blasts into theaters on May 25. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest on what's coming next in a galaxy far, far away.

The Star Wars franchise is full of classic characters and beloved portrayals of said characters, but few can compare to Harrison Ford and his tenure as Han Solo. That said, Alden Ehrenreich will take on the unenviable task of replacing Ford next month when Solo: A Star Wars Story finally hits theaters. There's quite a bit of fan enthusiasm to see what the young actor does with the scruffy-looking nerf herder, and according to director Ron Howard, a big part of Ehrenreich's approach involved tapping into the nature of Han Solo, and not Harrison Ford. The director explained:

It sounds like audiences looking for a recreation of Harrison Ford's performance from the original trilogy won't necessarily get that. Per what Ron Howard told Empire Magazine, his take on the younger version of the fan-favorite smuggler will be different than Ford's, as Alden Ehrenreich specifically looked to the nature of the character to capture the swagger that has made him so beloved. Harrison Ford obviously left a massive impression with his take on Han from his first appearance in A New Hope to his final appearance in The Force Awakens, but this offers the general sense that Ehrenreich is arguably looking more to the work done by screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and the Star Wars universe as a whole to find the heart of the character.

Ron Howard's remarks about Alden Ehrenreich's take on Han in Solo: A Star Wars Story seemingly make sense when we look at how other actors have taken over classic roles. It is similar to how different actors have taken over iconic and beloved roles like Batman or James Bond; a certain amount of DNA exists within the role to make the portrayals similar enough, but each actor also brings something different to the part to make it his own. After all, that's why Daniel Craig and Sean Connery can both embody the qualities of 007, while also playing the role in very different ways.

All of this ties back into advice that Harrison Ford reportedly gave Alden Ehrenreich once the wheels started turning on Solo: A Star Wars Story. Specifically, the former Han apparently offered insight into the original vision of George Lucas, which helped inform this new take on the character. Again, it was not a matter of tapping into Harrison Ford's portrayal and doing an impression; it was about getting to the root of Han as a character and playing that.

We will see what Alden Ehrenreich brings to the role of Han Solo next month when Solo: A Star Wars Story debuts in theaters on May 25. From there, the main Star Wars saga will continue with the premiere of J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode IX on December 20, 2019.

This poll is no longer available.

It's an excellent time to be a Star Wars fans. With Disney now in charge of the property, there are a ton of blockbusters coming from the galaxy far, far away. There's the main installments, Rian Johnson's upcoming trilogy, as well as standalone films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The next of these movies will be Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story, diving into the sordid past of everyone's favorite nerf herder. We'll be seeing a younger versions of Han, Lando, Chewie, and the Millennium Falcon. The latter will be far nicer than we're used to seeing in the main franchise, and Alden Ehrenreich recently revealed why Han lets the ship look crappy once he gets the rig from Lando. He said,

Alden Ehrenreich does make a solid point to EW. Han Solo spends much of his time before A New Hope smuggling goods throughout the galaxy, so he needs a ride that will be discrete. After all, the Empire has proven time and time again that they're willing to stop at nothing in order to secure their rule. Han and Chewie's misadventures throughout the galaxy often get them into trouble, so it's best to leave the Millennium Falcon looking like a "piece of junk", as Luke fondly calls it back in A New Hope.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will definitely introduce a new type of Millennium Falcon, as we'll see the ship as its originally under the ownership of Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian. Star Wars fans know how flashy Lando is (I mean, look at his capes), so the ship will be introduced with some extra features and an overall fancier look. It's a far departure from the Falcon we are introduced to in both A New Hope and The Force Awakens, with outside characters assuming it will barely run. But the ship has always been known to deliver, including Rey's escape of Jakku and the destruction of the second Death Star.

It should be interesting to see how Solo expands the Star Wars universe, especially when it comes to Harrison Ford's signature role. Not a ton of known about Han's past, especially now that the myriad novels are no longer canon. Ron Howard (formerly Chris Miller and Phil Lord) therefore has the freedom to make bold choices with the characters. We'll just have to see where it lands, and if Solo holds up against the acclaimed run of Rogue One.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will arrive in theaters on May 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your trips to the movies this year.

Recasting an iconic character is always a complicated process for a big franchise, but Solo: A Star Wars Story's Alden Ehrenreich was lucky in the sense that he had Harrison Ford to guide his take on the Corellian smuggler. In fact, one of the critical things that Ford did for his successor was walk him through his own experience as Han to convey the evolution of the character. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy opened up in a recent interview and explained:

Although Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to explore a new avenue of the Han Solo timeline (and hopefully not meet up with the events of A New Hope in the way that Rogue One did), it was still important for the actor to get a sense of Han as a character. In that regard, Alden Ehrenreich was lucky enough to get to meet Harrison Ford, and the previous Han Solo actor gave him insight into the earliest days of the character. This hopefully went a long way towards informing who Han becomes in the years between the beginning of the Star Wars franchise and his eventual death during the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

One area in which that manifested itself while shooting was in Alden Ehrenreich's knack for channeling Han's ability to fake his way through situations in which he finds himself out of his depth. Ron Howard addressed this in his interview with EW and explained:

That's something that the first trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has already shown us. Alden Ehrenreich's Han is cunning and capable when a situation calls for it, but several scenes also show him just barely scraping by on pure luck. Perfect examples of this are the opening chase in which he outruns authorities in a speeder, as well as the end of the trailer when he tries to calm down his companions in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. Luckily, Harrison Ford was there to help the new Han figure out the right way to navigate the role.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will make its big screen debut later this year on May 25. That said, Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi is still out in theaters, so take a look at our in-depth review of the film and check it out!

First, there was a tease, which dropped during Sunday night's Super Bowl between the Eagles and the Patriots. But with that came the promise of a longer trailer -- the first full look at Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story. It just dropped on Good Morning America, then hit the web. And now we have it here for you, so give it a spin.

A prequel to the original trilogy, Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story looks to tell a very early tale in the life of Star Wars fans' favorite smuggler, played this time out by Alden Ehrenreich. We see him in the footage enrolling in the pilot program, and then enjoy a montage of exciting clips that tick off a number of familiar faces... sort of. Chewbacca is present, of course, as Solo will explain how these two because allies and fast friends. But Solo also recasts Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, and finds new roles for Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton and Paul Bettany.

What does the trailer give us? It leans hard into Han Solo's arrogance. He talks about wanting to be a pilot, and how he's going to be the best that the galaxy has ever seen. We know this to be true, and it's fun to see a younger version of this space pirate on an adventure. But beyond Woody Harrelson's character, rumored to be called Tobias Beckett, putting together a team, we don't get a lot more story detail here. We'll have to wait for May.

The big question becomes, what do we think of Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo? He has some of the biggest shoes on the planet to fill in Harrison Ford's portrayal of the legendary character. And while I don't quite gel with what I see and hear in this first trailer, I know that I have to get over the initial shock that comes with a comparison. The trailer needs to breathe a little bit, and I have to see how Ehrenreich plays Han for the duration of the movie. This sample size is almost a little too small to properly judge.

Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25, breaking with the recent pattern of Star Wars owning the month of December (and usually stretching into January). This means that it will be competing against a number of summer blockbuster heavy hitters, from Avengers: Infinity War to Deadpool 2. Want to know what else is opening in theaters this year? Bookmark our 2018 Movie Release Guide, and follow along all year long.

This poll is no longer available.

Star Wars fans have been waiting for their first look at Alden Ehrenreich as the new Han Solo. Now they have it, sort of. As is frequently the case these days, merchandise is where the first look has come from. A movie fan in Arizona shared an image on social media of a cup he received through a theater loyalty program (a Solo Cup, if you will). The cup is covered in images of characters from upcoming films, but one of them is Alden Ehrenreich, looking like the famous smuggler. Check it out.

It's not honestly that surprising that the first place we see Han Solo is on the side of a movie theater soda cup. Quite often we get our first look at movie characters through toys or other merchandise. The timing of a movie's official reveals that have been dictated by a marketing plan are often not the same as the timing needed by those in charge of merchandise, which results in these sorts of things actually hitting first.

Although, part of the reason we're seeing this cup before anything official is probably because of the delays that Solo: A Star Wars Story dealt with due to their change in directors in the middle of filming. If Solo had wrapped filming on schedule it's possible we'd even have a trailer by now, and we would have seen Alden Ehrenreich in costume there. However, the entire Lucasfilm promotion plan likely had to change due to delays, meaning that the cup came out before the trailer.

If the image looks familiar, that's because you've probably seen it before. While this is absolutely an image of Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, it doesn't appear to be one he posed for in costume. His head is almost certainly photoshopped (or artistically rendered) from the cast image that was released around the time that filming on Solo: A Star Wars Story got underway. That doesn't make the image any less acceptable. Surely, whoever made the cup got the rights to use the image, and it was almost certainly supplied by an official source (either that, or they'll be a lawsuit coming shortly) but the cup needed the image before any official images of the actor would be available, and so this was done instead. Compare the smile above to the image below.

Since the image certainly came from official sources, we can assume that this is pretty close to what Alden Ehrenreich will look like when we see him in Solo: A Star Wars Story next year. It looks like we probably would expect a young Han Solo to look. There's no reason to believe the character's personal style was all that different from the original Star Wars. We'll get to see the real thing when Solo arrives in May.

Since finding a new home with Disney, the Star Wars franchise has been expanding its cinematic reach. In addition to the main saga movies, Anthology spinoff movies are also being released to tell standalone stories set in that galaxy, far, far away. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story kicked off the trend last year, and in 2018, we'll reunite with fan favorite Han Solo to learn what he was like long before he met Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Mos Eisley cantina and started aiding the Rebellion.

The Han Solo movie hasn't had the easiest production, but by all accounts, it's still set to be released on May 25, 2018. Just like with previous Star Wars movie, Lucasfilm has been tight-lipped about what the next Anthology spinoff will be about, but one thing there's been plenty of information about is the faces you'll see in the space opera blockbuster. With that in mind, we've gathered together all of the confirmed actors (and a few rumored performers and characters) who will appear in the Han Solo movie next summer. So put on your black vest, secure your DL-44 blaster and take a look at who will show up in the young smuggler's tale.

Alden Ehrenreich / Han Solo

After stealing the show in Hail, Caesar! and appearing in movies like Beautiful Creatures, Blue Jasmine and Rules Don't Apply, Alden Ehrenreich was selected to play Han Solo in his younger years. The spinoff will see the smuggler establishing his notorious reputation across the galaxy, and it's also been reported we'll see how he obtained his trusty ship, the Millennium Falcon. As the second actor to play Han Solo in live action, there's a lot riding on Ehrenreich's shoulders to play the protagonist uniquely while also making sure he matches up with Harrison Ford's performances.

Donald Glover / Lando Calrissian

In the world of movies and television, Donald Glover has built an impressive resume through projects like Community, The Martian, Magic Mike XXL, Spider-Man: Homecoming and the Emmy-nominated Atlanta. For the Han Solo movie, he's succeeding Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. All that's been officially mentioned about the younger Lando so far is that he's "a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy's underworld." It's unclear if he and Han already know each other when the movie starts or if this will depict their first meeting, but judging by Glover's comments about why Lando is such an appealing character, Han may not want to keep a close eye on the future Cloud City administrator.

Woody Harrelson / Beckett

Cheers, The Hunger Games, True Detective, Zombieland, War for the Planet of the Apes, these are just some of the notable credits Woody Harrleson has accumulated over the years. Harrelson boarded the Han Solo movie as Beckett, who is so far the only confirmed new character. Beckett will be Han's criminal mentor, which means we'll see how Han learned the tricks of his illegal trade. However, we already know that Han has the heart of a hero buried deep down, just because this Beckett is one of Han's allies at the start doesn't mean that they might not find each other at odds later in the story.

Joonas Suotamo / Chewbacca

Peter Mayhew will always be remembered as Chewbacca, but since Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Joomas Suotamo has been Mayhew's body double. The Han Solo movie marks Suotamo's first time playing Chewie during all of shooting, which ideally means he'll see a lot of action. Chronologically, the Han Solo move takes place years after Chewbacca helped Yoda escape Kashyyyk during Revenge of the Sith, and just like with Lando, we don't know if Han already knows the Wookie or if they'll be meeting for the first time. Either way, we're looking for to seeing this cinematic duo together again.

Emilia Clarke

Most know Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones, and in 2015, she took over as Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys. Now she's contributing to a third geek-friendly franchise by joining the Star Wars universe as one of the Han Solo movie's integral characters. Officially, no details about her character have been revealed yet. Unofficially, it was reported that there is a character in the movie referred to as Val who has "top billing." It's possible that Clarke may be playing the mysterious Val, though we can't discount that the role could belong to one of the other main actresses.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is best known for showing off her comedic chops in the Amazon series Fleabag, and her other notable work includes Man Up, Broadchurch and the upcoming Goodbye Christopher Robin. When her casting for the Han Solo movie was originally announced, it was said she would be delivering a "CGI-drive performance." This is similar to Alan Tudyk's K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and now we know for a fact that Waller-Bridge will be playing a droid companion to Lando named L3-37 in the Star Wars movie.

Thandie Newton

Over the last year, Thandie Newton has been impressing TV audiences as Maeve Millay on HBO's Westworld, and looking back further, you may remember her from Crash, Mission: Impossible 2, ER, The Pursuit of Happyness and W., to name a few. No details have been revealed about her character in the Han Solo movie yet, other than the fact that her character is named Val, but the trailer makes it seem like she'll be one of Han's criminal cohorts instead of being on the other side of the law.

Paul Bettany

Michael K. Williams, best known in television for playing Omar Little on The Wire and Chalky White on Boardwalk Empire, originally filmed the role of Dryden Vos for Solo. But, after Ron Howard took over directing duties and reshoots were needed, Williams had already moved on to his next project and was unable to get away. His role was then recast, with Avengers: Infinity War actor Paul Bettany in the newly reimagined role. Bettany hasn't played a lot of villains, but his character has already been billed as a "big shot gangster" and someone in the galactic underworld who's a piece of work. It's incredibly likely that Vos is, in fact, the main bad guy in Solo, but there is another possibility. Star Wars: The Clone Wars and EU fans will remember Quinlan Vos as an active Jedi during the final days of the Old Republic. Could this Dryden be related to him? Could Dryden be Quinlan's alias, much like how Obi-Wan Kenobi called himself Ben Kenobi? Or is Vos just the 'Smith' of the Star Wars universe, and a lot of people have that last name? We'll have to wait and see.

Ian Kenny

If you caught last year's Golden Globe-nominated movie Sing Street, Ian Kenny played the bully Barry. Well now he'll make his big American debut in the Han Solo movie. As has become the norm, Lucasfilm isn't saying who Kenny is playing, but it was reported back in May that his character is named Rebolt. Assuming this is true, a name like that suggests that this isn't someone who's part of the Empire in some capacity. If we had to guess, this Rebolt is either one of Han's criminal associates or some kind of bounty hunter or enforcer who is sent after the smuggler.

Warwick Davis

Warwick Davis has been a member of the Star Wars family for nearly all of his life, starting with when he played the Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi. He was brought for 1999's The Phantom Menace, and starting with 2015's The Force Awakens, he's performed in all of the new Star Wars movies (as is also voicing Rukh in Star Wars Rebels Season 4). However, if these non-Wicket Star Wars roles are any indication, it's doubtful that Davis' role will be a major one, and he'll likely just be cameoing as an alien.

Clint Howard

When Ron Howard took over the Han Solo movie directing gig from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, he decided to turn it into a family affair by adding his brother Clint to the cast. Howard revealed this when a fan questioned if he'd found a role for Clint, to which Howard responded, "You won't be disappointed." We can only hope that Clint Howard will be made up to look like one of this galaxy's more colorful denizens, but regardless, it's great that he'll contribute to another one of his brother's films.

Richard Dixon

Rounding out the actors on this list is Richard Dixon, who was most recently seen in the FX series Taboo as John Pettifer. Unlike the other performers on this list, there's been no official announcement or report about Dixon's involvement in the Han Solo movie. IMDB credits him as playing "Elite Citizen," but that website isn't always dependable when it comes to upcoming movies, so for now, treat his appearance as unconfirmed. That being said, if he's playing a person of wealth, that would make him a good target for Han on one of his adventures.

Jabba the Hutt

Given how Han had already pulled many jobs for Jabba the Hutt before A New Hope, it's not shocking to hear that the disgusting, slug-like crime lord could appear in the Han Solo movie. It was reported that Jabba is a "major polite point" in the story, and will be partly CGI and partly animatronic. Jabba's inclusion is only a rumor right now, but it would be interesting to see how Han came across Jabba's radar and seeing what it was like when the young scoundrel was in the Hutt's good graces.

Other Rumored Characters

Other than Jabba the Hutt, all of the characters who have been rumored for the Han Solo movie are people who haven't appeared in the Star Wars franchise. We've mentioned Val and Rebolt already, and some others are Moloch, Moloch's henchmen and Mother Proxima (the latter supposedly a puppet character). But working off just names, it's impossible to discern how they fit into the story.

We already knew there were plenty of issues on the set of the Han Solo movie as regards the directing situation. However, it turns out that's not the only problem. Lucasfilm is worried about their star as well. According to a recent report, the studio became so concerned with Alden Ehrenreich's performance that they took the steps of hiring an acting coach to work with him on the set.

As The Hollywood Reporter points out, hiring an acting coach is not a particularly unusual thing for a movie. However, hiring one this late in production is something that's not seen often. Normally, if an actor requires a coach for any reason, that's clear from the outset and so the studio will bring one in during pre-production to work with the actor on whatever issues are being perceived. Bringing in an acting coach weeks into filming would indicate a previously unnoticed problem with the performance.

The coach brought in was reportedly Maggie Kiley, a woman who Phil Lord and Chris Miller had previously worked with on the set of 21 Jump Street. No specifics are given in regards to exactly what the problem with Alden Ehrenreich's performance was, so we're left to speculate, but without any details it's essentially impossible to even do that.

Needless to say, on its face, the idea that an acting coach was brought in this late in production is slightly concerning. The issue isn't that the coach was needed, as mentioned, coaches are not unusual. The concerning bit is that nobody realized the coach was needed until filming had begun. Everything we've heard about Alden Ehrenreich up to this point was that he was the perfect person to play the role. We've been told he was the first to audition among literally thousands of people who submitted themselves. Something about his audition was so memorable that after Phil Lord and Chris Miller had auditioned every white male on the planet between the ages of 18 and 40, they still remembered Ehrenreich's performance. The perfect candidate can certainly still need a bit of help to get the job done, but how was this not noticed previously?

While this piece of news is certainly curious, at the end of the day it's really just one more question heaped on top of many in regards to the Han Solo movie. Clearly, this movie has had some fundamental problems. On the plus side, we know that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story also had issues, resulting in significant reshoots, and that movie turned out ok in the end. It's still possible that the same thing will happen to the Han Solo movie. At this point, Lucasfilm doesn't seem to think that the problems will delay the film's release, which is still set for May of 2018.

Perfect. Just perfect. How long do you think Phil Lord and Chris Miller were waiting to make this joke? About a year? Ever since they were hired to bring young Han Solo to the big screen? Either way, this first photo from the set of Han Solo's spinoff/origin/solo movie references one of the greatest Star Wars debates, and also proves that this project is in the right hands:

Han First Shot, of course, is a reference to the "Han shot first" controversy that has raged in the Star Wars community for decades, debating whether or not the rogue scoundrel blasted Greedo in self-defense, or in cold blood. Many fans would like to believe that Han Solo (Harrison Ford), needing to be redeemed at the start of Star Wars: A New Hope, would easily have pulled the trigger on an imminent threat. Except, even George Lucas has taken the side of saying Greedo fired on Han initially, causing Solo to fire back.

Regardless, the working title of the young Han Solo movie is Red Cup, which references Solo. Seriously, how many jokes can these guys fit into one photograph?

The sense of humor really shouldn't be that much of a surprise. These are the minds behind 21 Jump Street and The LEGO Movie after all. Both of them were film projects that could have gone terribly wrong, and yet, thanks to the surgeon-like skill that Chris Miller and Phil Lord have when it comes to writing, they have put together a collection of films that have been nearly flawless. Now the two have taken on their biggest challenge to date, one of the most beloved characters in the history of cinema.

It's incredibly exciting to see that production has begun on the Han Solo movie that is otherwise without a title. Maybe we'll call it Red Cup from now on, it's a lot easier to say than Untitled Han Solo Standalone Movie. Considering the fact that we only just got the official title for Star Wars: Episode VIII it could be quite awhile before we get the official title for this one.

Chris Miller and Phil Lord really feel like the perfect people to tackle this new film. It's certainly implied here that Chris Miller believes that "Han Shot First" and that's exactly who we think should be directing Alden Ehrenreich in the new movie. Also, now that filming has begun, there will probably be a lot more information coming out about the film, like maybe what it's actually about. We'll be here keeping you up to date.

It's a good time to be a Star Wars fan. After suffering through the less than stellar prequels and the dead years that followed, Disney has taken the mantle and brought the galaxy far, far away much closer. We can now expect a new Star Wars movie ever year, with the franchise alternating between main installments of the Skywalker story and one shot spinoffs. The first spinoff, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, will hit theaters in just a month's time, which will then lead the way for the untitled Han Solo movie to continue its development. Joining Alden Ehrenreich's Han are his buddies Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), and now we know what to expect from the big furry guy.

Alden Ehrenreich recently spoke to the folks at Variety at the premiere of his film Rules Don't Apply. Of course, his participation in the young Han Solo movie eventually came up, and he revealed a few details about Chewbaccca's role in the film.

That's right, we're getting a young and spry Chewbacca in the Han Solo movie. You know you've alway wondered what baby Wookies look like- and this might be your chance to find out.

All kidding aside, Chewbacca might not actually look all that different than what we're used to seeing. Perhaps his fur was cut a different way, but as Alden Ehrenreich says, the time difference would affect a human's looks much more than a Wookie's.

That's not to say that we won't see a totally different Chewbacca in the Han Solo movie. It's likely that the upcoming spinoff will be an origin story of sorts. Rather than seeing a younger Han and Chewie causing all sorts of mischief, we will probably see how the two became friends in the first place. In the original novels, Han Solo saved Chewie from certain death and torture, which is why the Wookie follows the nerf herder around the galaxy; he owes him a debt of gratitude and intends to pay. That isn't to say that Han and Chewbacca won't be butting heads throughout the movie. The duo has always bickered, and I imagine it was even worse in the very beginning of their relationship.

It has not yet been revealed if Peter Mayhew would reprise the role of Chewbacca in the Han Solo movie. He filmed his role in The Force Awakens _and _Star Wars: Episode VIII, so it's possible that the schedule of doing these movies back to back would be too much for the 72 year old. But it's just not Chewie without Mayhew, so we'll keep our furry fingers crossed.

Keep it here at CinemaBlend for updates on all things Star Wars.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will fly into theaters on December 16th.

The past summer was chock full of awesome Star Wars bombshells, but arguably nothing felt quite as massive as the announcement that Alden Ehrenreich will replace Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's upcoming Han Solo movie. It's a big moment for the history of the Star Wars franchise, and it's apparently something nobody has taken lightly. In fact, Ehrenreich was put through the wringer before he was allowed to finally don the iconic Han Solo vest.

During a recent interview with USA Today, Chris Miller opened up regarding the casting process for the Han Solo spin-off movie, and elaborated on the decision to ultimately grant the role to Alden Ehrenreich. He even went to far as to compare it to an Olympic track and field event. Although Ehrenreich was first genuine contender to audition for the part, Phil Lord and Chris Miller rigorously tested the young actor (and spent plenty of Disney's money in the process) in order to be absolutely certain that he was actually the right guy for the job. Miller explained to the paper,

To say that Alden Ehrenreich faced some seriously stiff competition for the part of Han Solo would be an understatement to say the least. Although he's a stellar up-and-comer in the Hollywood scene, he had to go up against some of the most highly regarded and talented actors of his generation -- ranging from Miles Teller to Jack O'Connell. The fact that Phil Lord and Chris Miller chose him against that sizable roster of talent to play Han Solo in a new Star Wars film should really instill quite a bit of confidence in his ability to truly channel the iconic scoundrel.

As if auditioning for the part of Han Solo against a sea of talented actors wasn't intimidating enough, Alden Ehrenreich recently also revealed the lengths that Phil Lord and Chris Miller went to in order to ensure that he could properly fill out the role. Not only did they have the Hail Caesar! star read for the part, but they also had him audition for the role by sitting in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon with his trusty Wookie companion, Chewbacca, right next to him. That's about as authentic as an audition for a Star Wars movie will ever get, and one could imagine it being crazy intimidating.

We will keep you posted with all of the latest news pertaining to the Han Solo standalone film as more information becomes available to us. The first Star Wars standalone movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, will hit theaters later this year on December 16th.

Fans were excited last week when Lucasfilm officially announced that Alden Ehrenreich would be taking on the role of a young Han Solo. We knew about the movie planned for 2018, but it turns out there may be more going on than simply that. A new report is claiming that Ehrenreich's contract with Disney isn't simply for that single film, but actually for three movies.

The Daily News just reported that, according to a source they have, if the first Han Solo movie is a success, two more will be following behind it, and they already have Alden Ehrenreich under contract if that happens. Apparently, because they have a fairly open timeline to play with, with many adventures that Han could have had before meeting up with Luke and Obi-Wan at Mos Eisley, they see a lot of promise in the character going forward. The source claims:

This opens up a number of different possibilities about where the Star Wars franchise as a whole could be going in the coming years. Apparently, the feeling is that since Han Solo didn't really get involved in the Rebellion against the Empire until the original Star Wars trilogy, they could tell many stories that have Han involved in very different adventures, involving entirely new places or characters. It honestly seems to have a "Han and Chewie as Guardians of the Galaxy" feel as it's being described here.

The current Star Wars film slate includes this winter's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the two additional episodes of the current trilogy, the announced Han Solo film, and a fifth film set to release in 2020 that has yet to be announced. We thought we might hear something about it at Star Wars Celebration a couple weeks back, but nothing was said. Rumors have stated that the film is meant to be a Boba Fett story, but if Lucasfilm is considering additional Han Solo movies, they may be eyeing that spot for the second film in that new franchise, two years after the first one would be just about right.

Regardless of whether or not we see a second Han Solo movie that soon, the fact Lucasfilm is tentatively planning for more is the first indication we've really had of where Disney is looking to take the Star Wars franchise once the current trilogy reaches its conclusion. The studio has been clear that they plan to make one new Star Wars movie every year, but what sorts of stories that they plan to tell have been unclear.

What do you think about the possibility of an entire trilogy of Han Solo movie? Are you excited by the prospect of even more, or is digging into the backstory of existing characters the wrong way to go with Star Wars? Let us know in the comments.

The Star Wars films have come a long way since their humble beginnings back in the 1970s. The galaxy far, far away has become an interconnected universe of films, no longer simply tied to the drama of the Star Wars clan. With an array of standalone movies on the way -- beginning with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in December -- there's really no limit to the stories we will soon get to witness.

With that in mind, the recent confirmation of Alden Ehrenreich as the new Han Solo has set our expectations for the prequel film sky high. However, we don't know much about how the new actor will fill Harrison Ford's shoes -- other than the fact that it will take place before he agreed to fly an old man, a kid, and a pair of droids to Alderaan. We've compiled a list of established, but unconfirmed Star Wars characters that could (and should) pop up alongside the beloved smuggler in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's upcoming standalone film. Now let's get started with one who never even made it passed the first Death Star...

Grand Moff Tarkin

Believe it or not, Han Solo didn't always fight on the most righteous side of the Galactic Civil War -- at least if this part of the Expanded Universe remains canon. During his younger years he enlisted in the Imperial forces and trained to become a pilot. With that in mind, this seems like a prime opportunity to bring back Grand Moff Tarkin (originally played by the late Peter Cushing in A New Hope) as a central member of The Empire's imposing military. Tarkin has become a major element on the Star Wars Rebels, and considering the fact that the timelines more or less seem to line up, it would make perfect sense for him to appear in Han Solo's standalone adventure -- possibly even accompanied by a wheezing Darth Vader.

Jabba The Hutt

Although Han Solo spends the entirety of the original Star Wars trilogy on the run from the Tatooine gangster, it's abundantly clear that Jabba at one time considered Han Solo a valuable asset before he ultimately became a liability. If the Han Solo standalone movie shows how a young Corellian became the galaxy's most notorious smuggler, then we should see how Jabba the Hutt took him in and groomed him for the life of a criminal. Prior to his death at the hands of Princess Leia, Jabba clearly had resources, and it would be fascinating to see how he used them when not actively trying to capture or kill Han Solo.

Maz Kanata

Like many of the characters on this list, Maz Kanata apparently had a long and well-established relationship with Han Solo when she first debuted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The familiarity they share with one another hinted at a very respectful history with one another spanning back decades, so it wouldn't be out of the question for the Han Solo movie to show these two getting to know one another. Maz' belief in The Force could serve as a strong counterpoint to Han's youthful disbelief in "hokey religions," and the scenes they share could also lay the groundwork for the future of the main continuity of films. Above all else, we basically just want to keep watching her ogle Chewbacca with loving eyes.

Lando Calrissian

If Phil Lord and Chris Miller want to get Alden Ehrenreich inside of the Millennium Falcon's cockpit during the course of this standalone movie, then they will need to have Han Solo win the iconic ship from Lando Calrissian in a game of Sabacc. When we as an audience first met Lando towards the end of The Empire Strikes Back, it was instantly clear that these two scoundrels have a contentious relationship that never quite devolved into outright hatred. Showing the foundation of this relationship could help better inform the events of the original trilogy while going deeper into the nature of their casual rivalry, and their similar taste in ships -- not to mention their similar taste in women.

Boba Fett

I'm going to come right out and say it: within the confines of the Star Wars movies, Boba Fett does not deserve his badass reputation. Sure, he's had a great run in the Expanded Universe, but he still needs to prove himself on the silver screen. Just prior to the bounty hunter's demise early on in Return of the Jedi, Han Solo responds to the mere mention of his name with total fear. These two scoundrels clearly share a history, and it's enough to make Han freak out simply by hearing Fett's name. We want to see the foundation of that fear, as well as a look into the life of this calculating killer during his prime years as one of the galaxy's most notorious and ruthless scumbags.

Grand Admiral Thrawn

We think that it's about damn time that Grand Admiral Thrawn made his way onto the silver screen. In the same vein that Grand Moff Tarkin could make for a terrifying figure to loom over Han Solo's early Imperial years, Thrawn could easily debut on the big screen as the big bad in the standalone Han Solo movie. Much like Forest Whitaker's Saw Gererra, Thrawn will soon officially become canon once again when he makes his way to the Star Wars Rebels series. We can think of no better time for Lucasfilm to bring this legendary villain to life on the big screen than for him to make Han Solo's life a living hell.

Greedo

Ah, poor Greedo the Rodian smuggler will forever live in infamy as the first ever on-screen victim of Han Solo's DL-44 blaster -- which Han totally shot first, by the way. Greedo and Han very clearly have a well-established relationship by the time Han guns down the alien in the Mos Eisley, and as such, we want to see the foundation of that antagonistic relationship. It's not like Greedo was already a one-off character to begin with. He made a cameo appearance as a child in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as a friend of Anakin Skywalker; all we want is to see how he spent his professional smuggling years prior to meeting a gruesome end at the hands of Han Solo.

Few genres have become safer bets for awards season than biopics. However, the prestige of the genre has also led to a major over-saturation of these types of films. That being said, every now and then we see a trailer for one that really gets us excited as moviegoers. Warren Beatty's upcoming return to the silver screen as Howard Hughes in the long-awaited Rules Don't Apply has done just that. Check out the trailer below to see for yourself.

That's a trailer that sells Rules Don't Apply as pure, unadulterated Oscar bait -- and I mean that in the best possible way. Centering on a young driver (Alden Ehrenreich) for the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) in 1958 Hollywood, the film follows this young man as he begins a forbidden relationship with a young actress (Lily Collins) as the wealthy businessmen also falls for her. It's a movie chock full of hilarious antics befitting a genuinely absurd man like Howard Hughes, but it also appears to possess a deeply profound love story set during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Each and every member of the Rules Don't Apply ensemble looks perfectly cast in their respective roles, but the one we're most excited about is up-and-comer Alden Ehrenreich. The actor most recently proved his ability to take on an old-Hollywood period piece earlier this year in his breakout role as Hobie Doyle with the Coen Brothers comedy Hail! Caesar. He's clearly got strong acting chops, and another great performance in Rules Don't Apply could go a long way towards proving his ability to nail the character of Han Solo when he steps into the shoes of the iconic character for the Star Wars prequel.

The fact that Rules Don't Apply will actually come to the silver screen in many ways feels like nothing short of a miracle. Warren Beatty has expressed a vested personal interest in making the project since the 1970s, and as his career has worn on, it became more and more likely that he would never get a chance to chronicle the life of the eccentric Howard Hughes on the big screen. Although he hasn't made a movie in quite some time, it's abundantly clear that the aging actor/filmmaker hasn't missed a beat as he appears to effortlessly shoulder the dual burden of directing Rules Don't Apply while simultaneously taking on its most important role. The man may be getting older, but it's clear that he's still got it.

We here at Cinema Blend will keep you up to date with all of the latest and greatest details related to Warren Beatty's return to the silver screen. Rules Don't Apply will land in theaters this fall on November 23 -- just in time for awards season.

The race to land a new Han Solo may finally have come to a close. Page Six, the gossip column for The NY Daily News, just dropped a bombshell stating that, according to sources, Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as Young Han Solo.

This Page Six report comes after news recently that Alden Ehrenreich had put a little distance between himself and the rest of the candidates who had thrown their hats into the ring to play Han Solo in a spinoff, solo prequel movie. If this news is to be believed (and we’ll continue to scour the trades for viable sourcing), then it seems like we have a successor to Harrison Ford’s iconic role. May the Force be with you, Alden.

Alden Ehrenreich has a few prestige projects to his name, notably Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine and the brilliant, moody Stoker. But he really turned heads earlier this year playing an up-and-coming film star in Joel and Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar!. His character was a simple man, a bit of a dunce who gets chewed up and spit out by Ralph Fiennes’ difficult director. He was a great foil for Fiennes, and really held his own with the Coens’ expertly paced dialogue.

The Han Solo movie is still a long way away. Disney has dated the film for May 25, 2018, meaning that co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have time to figure out the direction of the story. That being said, Miller shared this image of Han’s blaster on Star Wars Day, meaning that the project is top of mind for the duo, so casting could be coming together sooner than we expected.

We’ll continue to wait on confirmation from the studio, Alden Ehrenreich, the co-directors, or even Harrison Ford. Until then, it looks like we know who is playing Han Solo in the spinoff movie. What do you think of the choice?

The role of young Han Solo for Disney's untitled Star Wars story anthology is one that's been hotly competed, with the field going from a massive list of candidates to a manageable short-list in seemingly record time. Now, we've received information that one name above all others is in a commanding lead to play the younger incarnation of the infamously roguish smuggler. If you're an Alden Ehrenreich fan, then today's your lucky day, as he's the man at the top of the heap!

A source close to the untitled spin-off's production gave Deadline the leg up, stating that Ehrenreich was so impressive that he jumped to the head of a list that included such candidates as Transformers: Age Of Extinction's Jack Reynor, Kingsman: The Secret Service's Taron Egerton, and Brooklyn's Emory Cohen. Naturally, while this item is a rumor from the usual "sources close to the production," it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for this to be true. Which is good, considering how it's hard not to get excited about Alden Ehrenreich's possible participation in the Phil Lord / Chris Miller directed spin-off.

While Ehrenreich has had roles in such moderate visibility films as Beautiful Creatures and Blue Jasmine, his greatest claim to fame has been the role of Hobie Doyle in this year's Coen Brothers offering Hail, Caesar! Alden Ehrenreich's portrayal of the lovable, but slightly dim cowboy earned him some of the raves that the screwball comedy had logged in its theatrical release. In fact, if you remember the pre-release materials that were released earlier this year, it only took one trailer for the relatively fresh actor to become the breakout star of the film.

Between the quick comedic timing, as well as his extraordinary levels of cowboy swagger, Alden Ehrenreich seems like the perfect front-runner for the young Han Solo spin-off that follows Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in the canon of standalone films that will help fill in the gaps of the Star Wars universe. Though we'd venture a guess that if Ehrenreich's hypothetically charming performance translates into similarly impressive box office numbers, the adventures of the smuggler from Corellia might become a sort of mini-franchise of their own.

Though we'll have to wait until 2018 for the as of yet untitled Han Solo spin-off, Alden Ehrenreich can next be seen in Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes biopic, which will be released at some point this awards season.