Officially announced by Lucasfilm last year, The LEGO Movie helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are gearing up to direct a still-untitled Star Wars Story film that will follow Han Solo. Now, however, there’s an interesting update: Everyone’s favorite Wookiee is also a part of the story. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed Chewbacca’s involvement with the film during Deutsche Bank‘s 24th Annual Media, Internet and Telecom Conference, describing the 2018 release as “an origin story about Han Solo and Chewie.“
Although unconfirmed, it is likely that The Force Awakens‘ Joonas Suotamo will reprise the Chewbacca role for the new film. As to who might be playing Han, they jury is still out. Alleged candidates are said to include Emory Cohen (Brooklyn), Scott Eastwood (The Longest Ride), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars), Dave Franco (21 Jump Street), Blake Jenner (Everybody Wants Some), Logan Lerman (Fury), Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Miles Teller (Whiplash).
The screenplay for the Han Solo movie is written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan and will focus on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.
Slated for a May 25, 2018 release, the Han Solo movie will be executive produced by Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin and co-produced by Will Allegra. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, meanwhile, hits theaters December 16, 2016.
