Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as Han Solo for an upcoming Star Wars film set to be released in 2018. The movie will follow Solo’s life before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope.
At only twenty six years of age Ehrenreich has a prominent list of cinematic credits and achievements under his belt. Earlier this year he appeared alongside George Clooney, Josh Brolin and Channing Tatum in Hail, Caesar!, directed by the Cohen brothers. Later this year he will feature in lead roles in an untitled Warren Beatty project alongside Lily Collins and Matthew Broderick, and The Yellow Birds alongside Jennifer Aniston and Toni Colette.
Ehrenreich was discovered by Steven Spielberg at a bar mitzvah reception when he was only 14 years old. His meeting with Spielberg led to TV roles in Supernatural and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Still, Ehrenreich is not the most familiar name out there. Certainly not the name expected to fill Han Solo’s impressive shoes. His appointment might be signalling the beginning of a new age of casting by bringing new and fresh actors to the leading roles rather than reserving all the A-list roles for the established celebrities. Moving forward, let’s hope this young man is able to carve his own path as the character while staying true to Harrison Ford’s iconic portrayal.
Taron Egerton from Eddie the Eagle and Jack Reynor from Transformers: Age of Extinction were other serious contenders for the Solo role.
This new Han Solo movie is not set to begin shooting until early next year. This is because it is rumoured Solo will have a cameo role in the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which is currently still in production and set to hit screens in December this year.
What do you think of the new casting choice?