Confirmed: Alden Ehrenreich to play young Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’ spin-off

LONDON, United Kingdom – It’s official – Alden Ehrenreich is set to play a young Han Solo in an upcoming Star Wars spinoff. (READ: Alden Ehrenreich to play young Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’ spin-off – reports)

Directing duo Chris Miller and Phil Lord made the announcement on Sunday, July 17, at the Europe 2016 Star Wars Celebration (SWCE) at the Excel Centre in London. 

The directors spoke about  where they spoke about the untitled Han Solo movie during a panel titled “Future Filmmaker Discussion.”

Also at the panel were Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: Episode VIII and Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, Kiri Hart, and Pablo Hidalgo.

“We turned over every rock to find someone who has the charisma and magic swagger,” Phil said, according to Star Wars’ “Future Filmmaker Discussion” panel live blog.

“But it was a waste of money because the person to get the part was literally the first person to walk through the door,” Chris added.

Alden himself, who previously appeared in the Coen brothers’ Hail, Caesar! with George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston, was at the panel and shared that he auditioned for 6 months.

Crowd goes WILD as Alden Ehrenreich, young Han Solo, surprises crowd!!!!! Coolest part: going on the Falcon pic.twitter.com/kX8aRhJQ7V

— Wyatt Ong (@wyattcaraway) July 17, 2016

 

Alden: screen-testing w Chewbacca was cool. "I’ve never acted with a Wookie before."

— Wyatt Ong (@wyattcaraway) July 17, 2016

 

The one person he told was his mom tho people have been coming up to him to aay congratulations lol pic.twitter.com/VF34RRarbR

— Wyatt Ong (@wyattcaraway) July 17, 2016

 

Alden’s mom sent him pix of his old @starwars toys pic.twitter.com/p57K9HNoNL

— Wyatt Ong (@wyattcaraway) July 17, 2016

 

It was previously reported that Alden would take on the role, a character famously played by Harrison Ford in the original Star Wars movies.

During the panel, Alden said that he only told his mom that he’d gotten the part, but he’s received many congratulations from other people anyway.

Among those who auditioned, according to The Guardian, were Taron Egerton, Jack Reynor, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Emory Cohen.

Filming for the Han Solo movie will begin early in 2017, and the movie is set to be released in 2018.

Cameras to roll probably Jan-Feb, lots of sets and characters to build. pic.twitter.com/LvC4suvVcX

— Wyatt Ong (@wyattcaraway) July 17, 2016

 

– with reports from Wyatt Ong/Rappler.com