<P> In July 2015, Lucasfilm announced that an Anthology film, focusing "on how (a) young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi - Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley", would be released on May 25, 2018 . The project would be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from a script by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan . Kennedy would serve as a producer on the film, with Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin executive producers; Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel also produce . The Han Solo project was separate from a film that was originally being developed by Josh Trank, which was pushed back to an unconfirmed date . Solo's friend, the Wookiee, Chewbacca, would also appear in the film . In May 2016, Lawrence Kasdan stated that filming would start in January 2017 . </P> <P> In January 2016, a shortlist of actors was revealed for the role of young Han Solo, including Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Dave Franco, Jack Reynor, Scott Eastwood, Logan Lerman, Emory Cohen and Blake Jenner . In March 2016, it was reported that Alden Ehrenreich, Reynor and Taron Egerton were on a shortlist of actors considered for the young Han Solo role . In May 2016, Ehrenreich was reported to have been cast as the young Han Solo, and was revealed in the role at Star Wars Celebration: Celebration Europe III two months later . Miller called casting the role one of "the hardest casting challenges of all time" adding they "saw over 3,000 people for the part". </P> <P> By the following October, Tessa Thompson, Naomi Scott, Zoë Kravitz, Emilia Clarke, Kiersey Clemons, Jessica Henwick and Adria Arjona were being considered for the female lead, while Donald Glover was being considered to play a young Lando Calrissian . Glover was confirmed for Calrissian shortly after, with Clarke cast as the female lead the following month . </P> <P> In early January 2017, Woody Harrelson was revealed to be in negotiations to portray Han Solo's mentor, and was confirmed to be appearing in the film shortly after . Christian Bale had previously been in discussions for the role . A subsequent interview with Harrelson bolstered speculation that he may be specifically playing Star Wars Legends character Garris Shrike, but Harrelson revealed the character's name as Beckett in March 2017 . In February 2017, Phoebe Waller - Bridge joined the cast in an undisclosed role, said to be "a CGI - driven performance" similar to Alan Tudyk in Rogue One as the droid K - 2SO . Additionally, it was reported that Thandie Newton was in negotiations to star in the film . Waller - Bridge and Newton were confirmed as being cast by the end of February, alongside the announcement that Joonas Suotamo would appear as Chewbacca, reprising the role from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi that he shared with original Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew . Michael K. Williams entered talks to join the film in early March 2017, and was confirmed shortly after, portraying a half - human, half - animal creature . By the end of the month, Ian Kenny had joined the cast . Warwick Davis was confirmed as part of the cast by the end of July 2017 . </P>

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