It’s a big news day for Harrison Ford franchise. First we get word that he’s reteaming with Steven Spielberg for another Indiana Jones movie, and now we’ve got a casting update for the Young Han Solo Star Wars spinoff in the works at Disney. In January the first casting shortlist arrived as Disney, Lucasfilm, and directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were casting a pretty wide net, with folks as varied as Miles Teller and Logan Lerman making the cut. But now it appears they have narrowed their list down to a handful of final candidates, and it’s quite formidable.
Per THR, Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!), Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction), and Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) have emerged as some of the final candidates taking part in screen tests in London, with Variety’s Justin Kroll adding Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) and Blake Jenner (Everybody Wants Some!!) to the list. THR cautions that there could be a few other names on the list due to the highly secretive nature of all Star Wars projects, but these names are among those doing what could be the final rounds of tests in London.
I’ve gotta say, I can’t complain about any of these candidates. While folks no doubt are befuddled by Reynor’s inclusion, after seeing him in the crowdpleasing Irish musical Sing Street at Sundance I came away convinced he could definitely pull off Ford’s swagger, and while Ehrenreich impressed in the underrated Beautiful Creatures, he basically stole the Coen Brothers’ latest comedy Hail, Caesar!. And we already know that Egerton has charisma to spare, so basically now it comes down to making a final decision, and this is where I don’t envy Lord and Miller.
THR notes that Teller, Ansel Elgort, and Brooklyn actor Emory Cohen are among those who are believed to have met on this Star Wars spinoff, which was scripted by veteran Lawrence Kasdan alongside his son Jon Kasdan. Lord and Miller—who have made a career out of turning bad ideas into great films, from 21 Jump Street to The LEGO Movie—are making their big live-action tentpole debut on the pic, which is currently untitled but slated for release on May 25, 2018.
So what do you think, folks? Who’s your pick to play the young Han Solo in what will be the second Star Wars anthology film following Rogue One? I’m kind of partial to Egerton or Reynor, but as I said I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of these guys. Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.
