<P> Solo: A Star Wars Story, or simply Solo, is a 2018 American space Western film based on the Star Wars character Han Solo . Directed by Ron Howard, it was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and is the second of the Star Wars anthology films following 2016's Rogue One . A stand - alone installment set prior to the events of A New Hope, it explores the early adventures of Han Solo and Chewbacca, who also meet a young Lando Calrissian, as they are involved in a heist within the criminal underworld . The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Solo, alongside Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller - Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany . </P> <P> George Lucas began development on a young Han Solo film in 2012 . Lucas commissioned Lawrence Kasdan to write the screenplay, and Kasdan was later joined by his son, Jonathan . Principal photography began in January 2017 at Pinewood Studios, under the direction of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller . The pair left the project in June 2017 after reportedly being fired over "creative differences" with Lucasfilm, and Howard took over directing duties . With an estimated budget of at least $250 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made . </P> <P> The film had its world premiere in Los Angeles on May 10, 2018, and also screened on May 15 at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, before its United States release on May 25, 2018 in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D . It received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the cast (particularly Ehrenreich and Glover), visuals and action sequences, although many criticized the pacing and noted that the film added "nothing new" to the Star Wars franchise . </P> <P> On the shipbuilding world of Corellia, orphaned children are made to steal in order to survive . Young Han and his lover Qi'ra make an escape from the clutches of a local criminal gang . They bribe an Imperial officer with a stolen sample of coaxium, a powerful hyperspace fuel, in exchange for passage on an outgoing transport, but Qi'ra is apprehended by their pursuers before she can board . Han vows to return for her and joins the Imperial Navy as a flight cadet, given the surname "Solo". </P>

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