It’s funny, since Disney bought Lucasfilm, we’ve known that we can expect a new STAR WARS film pretty much every year from now until… well, likely forever. We got EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS in 2015, ROGUE ONE last December, and we’ll have EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI this December. But with the upcoming Han Solo prequel movie hitting next May, we’re very soon going to have a LOT of STAR WARS to see on the big screen. Is this too much? I guess we’ll find out. Today we get our first “official” cast and crew photo from that movie, co-directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (THE LEGO MOVIE), and you can see them alongside Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo (as Chewbacca) and Donald Glover (as young Lando Calrissian). Click on the photo to make it bigger. It’s weird, I’m sure this is going to be a fun and entertaining adventure, but I’ve reached that age where it’s hard for me to look at movies like this without my nostalgia factor feeling just a little threatened. These are characters I’ve grown up with and adored, and the idea of someone else playing them is just strange. Perhaps it will exceed my expectations and I won’t care, but I’m also realistic enough to know that even though these are very familiar characters, this movie isn’t really being made for me. Disney is smart enough to realize they need to start catering to a new generation of STAR WARS fans, and this actually is a pretty clever way to do it. Are you excited about seeing a young Han Solo adventure? Let us know in the comments. You can read the official press release below.
Click on image to see it full-size.
HAN SOLO – SMUGGLER. SCOUNDREL. HERO.
A NEW STAR WARS STORY BEGINSThe adventure-filled past of the iconic scoundrel and everyone’s favorite Wookiee is going before cameras this month when principal photography on the untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story officially began February 20th at Pinewood Studios, London.
The movie will explore the duo’s adventures before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, including their early encounters with that other card-playing rogue from a galaxy far, far away, Lando Calrissian.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directors co-piloting the movie, with a cast that includes Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Thandie Newton, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca.
“Watching such inspired people from all over the world, with such unique voices, come together for the sole purpose of making art, is nothing short of miraculous,” Lord and Miller said. “We can’t think of anything funny to say, because we just feel really moved, and really lucky.”
Written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan, it will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, Simon Emanuel and co-produced by Kiri Hart, Susan Towner and Will Allegra. Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin will executive produce.
Crewing the ship will be some of the industry’s top talent, including Academy Award nominee for his work on “Arrival,” Bradford Young (Director of Photography), Chris Dickens (Editor), Dominic Tuohy (SFX Supervisor), Rob Bredow (VFX Supervisor) and Brad Allan (Action Designer).
They will be joining returning Star Wars veteran crew members Neal Scanlan (Creature & Droid FX Creative Supervisor), Neil Lamont (Production Designer), Dave Crossman and Glyn Dillon (Co-Costume Designers), Jamie Wilkinson (Prop Master), Lisa Tomblin (Hair), Amanda Knight (Make-Up) and Nina Gold (UK Casting Director).
The untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story is slated for release on May 25, 2018.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
