Bob Iger: Han Solo film to span six years (and about that name thing…)

Disney CEO Bob Iger dropped a couple of things about the two Star Wars films in production – and those beyond. (The ever-vague “starting talks.”)

He was most detailed on the Han Solo film. It will span 6 years – Alden Ehrenreich’s Han from the ages of 18 to 24 – and deal with him meeting Chewbacca and “finding” the Millennium Falcon. WSJ reporter Ben Fritz tweeted about Han “finding his name,” which a lot of folks are jumping on. I’m a little more hesitant – it’s not designated as a direct quote, and the meaning could easily be making his name. So don’t place any flags in your theories yet!

For The Last Jedi, he said they won’t change the film due to Carrie Fisher’s death. “Her performance remains as it is in VIII. In Rogue One, we had some digital character. We are not doing that with Carrie.” He also promised that Mark Hamill will do “a lot of talking.”

Earlier, Iger announced he would remain as Disney’s CEO through at least July 2019.

Woody Harrelson spills his Hanthology character’s name

Woody Harrelson revealed his Star Wars character’s name on Jimmy Fallon last night: Beckett. (That’s the standard spelling, anyway.) He’s “kind of a criminal” and a “mentor” (as we knew) to Han Solo.


There are no previously-existing characters with that name in Star Wars. But hopefully this means no one will ask him about Garris Shrike again.

The still-untitled Han Solo standalone is filming now and set for a May 2018 release.

Principal photography begins on Han Solo standalone, release date is still May

StarWars.com has annouced that principal photography has begin on the Han Solo standalone, along with confirming rumored cast members Thandie Newton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It’s also the first time they’ve mentioned the release date in quite a while – and surprisingly, it’s still May 25, 2018.

If it does indeed remain May, this would be our first non-December release since Disney bought the franchise, and could signal a permanent move back to spring for Episode IX and beyond. The May release date will put Han just on the heels of Episode VII, The Last Jedi, which is out December 15, 2017.

The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca along with Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directing, from a script by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.

Rumor: Pheobe Waller-Bridge in talks for CGI role in Han standalone

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Variety reports that Pheobe Waller-Bridge, creator and star of the Amazon series Fleabag, is in talks for a “CGI-driven” role in the Han Solo standalone.

They describe her characters as “a significant part of the ensemble,” so something more in line with Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO in Rogue One than Lupita Nyong’o’s Maz Kanata in The Force Awakens.

The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke. It’s directed Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who recently noted that it had begun filming. It’s due out in 2018.

Han Solo standalone begins filming

With a tweet from co-director Chris Miller captioned “Han shot first,” we learn that the Han Solo standalone has begun shooting. The slate says ‘Red Cup,’ the film’s shooting title. (Solo… Get it?)

The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, plus Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson in yet-unknown roles. Posts like these from directors are usually followed by a StarWars.com announcement which may reveal further info (like, perhaps, a new release date?) so we’ll keep any eye out.