<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 . It is the second Star Wars anthology film following 2016's Rogue One . The plot takes place over ten years prior to the events of A New Hope, and explores the early adventures of Han Solo and Chewbacca, as the pair are involved in a heist within the criminal underworld and meet a young Lando Calrissian . The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han 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 the film in 2012 . He commissioned Lawrence Kasdan to write the screenplay, which was completed by his son Jonathan after Kasdan was hired to write Star Wars: The Force Awakens . 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 and will need to gross at least $500 million to break even . </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 has grossed $342 million worldwide and received generally favorable reviews from critics, with praise for the cast (particularly Ehrenreich and Glover), visuals and action sequences, although many noted that the film added "nothing new" to the Star Wars franchise . </P> <P> On Corellia, orphaned children are made to steal in order to survive . Lovers Han and Qi'ra make an escape from the clutches of a local 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 . When the recruiting officer asks for his surname, Han says he is alone with no family, and the recruiter gives him the last name "Solo". </P>

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