Hans Solo Movie To Debut On May 25, 2018; “Star Wars” Spin-Off Explores Pilot And Chewbacca’s Early Encounters With Lando Calrissian

Lucasfilm recently released the first cast still photo for the Hans Solo spin-off film and revealed the film’s debut: May 25, 2018. According to the release, production has already started and that the film will star Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. Supporting characters will be played by Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Joonas Suotamo.

The Verge said the release date holds a significance to “Star Wars” fans. “A New Hope” was released on the same date in 1977. Every “Star Wars” film, with the exception of “The Clone Wars,” is released on the same month, which is at the beginning of the blockbuster season.

Lawrence and Jon Kasdan are writing the script for the movie, which will feature Hans Solo and Chewbacca's early days and encounters with the young Calrissian. Ehrenreich, whose breakout role was in the George Clooney starrer “Hail Caesar,” was grateful for the opportunity to fill in the shoes of Harrison Ford, who appears to have left the series following his untimely death in “The Force Awakens.”

"I had an audition process that went on for a long time, and I got to spend a lot of time with the guys who are directing the film. Getting to be around them and being around the world a little bit has been the main experience so far. I did my audition on the Millennium Falcon for one of my screen tests, which was pretty cool," Ehrenreich said about getting the role.