Update! Woody Harrelson Joins the Young Han Solo Spin-Off Film! First Comment from the Actor.

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

 

Starwars.com has officially announced that Woody Harrelson will be appearing in the next Star Wars spin-off film, following the early years in the life of Han Solo, before the events of the original 1977 Star Wars film. Read on for more!

 

Last week Variety.com reported that Lucasfilm was in talks and considering actor Woody Harrelson for an important role in the next Star Wars spinoff movie. Now it’s clear that it will become a reality.

 

Harrelson will be joining cast members Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian) and Emilia Clarke. Also Chewbacca was confirmed to appear in the movie.

 

 

From StarWars.com:

Harrelson, known for wide-ranging roles in film and TV such as The Hunger Games, No Country For Old Men, True Detective, Cheers, and Zombieland, will join actors Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian), and Emilia Clarke in the adventure. This Star Wars Story is the second in a series of films that live outside the Skywalker family saga, and is set during the early scoundrel days of the iconic characters, prior to A New Hope.

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with an artist with as much depth and range as Woody,” said the film’s directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. “His ability to find both humor and pathos, often in the same role, is truly unique. He is also very good at ping pong.”

 

 

Filming for Han Solo is expected to begin in early February, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing.

 

 

 

Update!

 

 

Earlier today, Woody Harrelson officially became a part of the galaxy far, far away….

 

Now just moments ago, Harrelson told Mashable in a Facebook Live chat that his character is multidimensional.

“I’m a mentor to Han, but I’m also a bit of a criminal,” he said. “I don’t think I should say much more than that because the Force is not allowing me.”

 

 

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38 thoughts on “Update! Woody Harrelson Joins the Young Han Solo Spin-Off Film! First Comment from the Actor.

  • January 11, 2017 at 8:33 pm
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    The casting has washed away any worries I had for this film. I am 100% on board with this project.

    • January 11, 2017 at 11:25 pm
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      As long as the story is original enough, and not just checking the boxes f things that “must” happen. Winning the falcon, meeting Chewie, etc..
      Though it would be interesting to see the film opening with the sabacc game, referencing Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.

      Would be nice to see Han & Chewie already together, so the film will open in mid-action, so to speak.

    • January 12, 2017 at 7:55 am
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      I’ll take Star Wars in any form, so I’m on board. But I think this really will be a different kind of film…a funny, silly, over-the-top heist.
      Aside from being a little more “grown-up”, R1 really wasn’t that different from the more recent (darker) Star Wars movies.

  • January 11, 2017 at 9:07 pm
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    I like Woody Harrison as an actor but I think he’s too famous to be the film. Just like SLJ in the Prequels my suspension of disbelief is taken away every time he was in the screen. Maybe he is playing an alien (perhaps Kasmir from the Kanan comics)

      • January 12, 2017 at 6:48 am
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        Wow, they made a comic of the original first script? Can I have the name please?

    • January 11, 2017 at 9:40 pm
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      By that argument, anyone should feel that way now when Harrison Ford is on screen. Since he’s been in so many things since then. Especially to newer fans.

      • January 11, 2017 at 10:20 pm
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        Honestly… as someone who loves the OT. I kind of did feel he stuck out in TFA 😛

        • January 11, 2017 at 11:17 pm
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          So you’d have preferred he’d have not been in it?

          • January 11, 2017 at 11:26 pm
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            It felt obligatory to me. Like… ok. I’ll do it so long as you finally write me out. Every time I saw him on screen I didn’t see Han Solo. I saw Ford doing a good job at getting out of the franchise. I was glad he really did try. It wasn’t phoned in. To be clear I loved TFA.

            My fear is here… no matter how well Woody does. It’ll feel like Woody in Star Wars. We’ll have to see.

          • January 12, 2017 at 7:58 am
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            My only fear with the Han Solo movie is Han Solo.
            Alden Ehrenreich needs to nail it.

  • January 11, 2017 at 9:42 pm
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    The end of the official statement says “…is scheduled for release in 2018.”
    So, I guess they may indeed be debating the month of release.

    • January 12, 2017 at 12:33 am
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      December.. I think i read somewhere they want all new SW movies to be a year apart.

      • January 12, 2017 at 5:27 am
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        It’s more like they want a movie released every year, which is not *quite* the same thing. The original intent for Episode VIII was for the film to hit theaters about five months after Rogue One was released – which, of course, would keep them covered for 2016 and 2017 alike without necessitating a year-long wait.

        – Pomojema

    • January 12, 2017 at 5:15 pm
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      Yeah, it said that when Emilia Clarke was cast as well.

  • January 11, 2017 at 10:03 pm
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    Never cared about the movie at all… Until this news. Good move Diseny, good move

  • January 11, 2017 at 10:16 pm
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    I don’t like this casting for a movie I already think shouldn’t happen. That said I have been wrong in the past. This could turn out great. We’ll see.

    • January 12, 2017 at 12:32 am
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      personally im not excited for this movie overall.. Just dont think it needed to be done. but there are some fans out there that feel they need everything explained to them and can’t let a hero just be a hero..

  • January 11, 2017 at 10:49 pm
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    this is really coming together well, excited.

  • January 11, 2017 at 11:26 pm
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    At first I was, nah too much like Hunger Games rehash. But after I thought more about it it’s true he can play serious, but also dirty/uber scoundrel like. This film is really starting to grow on me. Like Rogue One I thought, yeah OK. But the more info was released the more I thought this has real potential. Same applies here. Really starting to look forward to it. P.S Check out some of the Jedha characters. The Star Wars universe has some really cool, interesting underworld characters. This is where this movie will be at home I’m thinking !

  • January 12, 2017 at 4:42 am
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    Yay! Keep adding wonderful talent to that movie!!

  • January 12, 2017 at 5:39 am
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    Not crazy about this cast but at least he’s been known for playing characters that would seemingly seem like a mentor to Han. At the very least, I hope Rogue One’s proved that Disney can nail the OT feel to this film so it at least fits in visually with IV-VI like R1 did.

  • January 12, 2017 at 6:11 am
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    This may be the first casting decision in a Star Wars film that might ‘take me out of the movie’, but Harrelson has done some stuff I like, and some stuff I didn’t. We’ll just have to see.

    He may be the best known actor ever in a SW film outside of Liam Neeson.

    • January 12, 2017 at 6:12 am
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      An earlier post reminded me….Sam Jackson….. He was a famous one as well. We’ll just have to see.

    • January 12, 2017 at 5:15 pm
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      Good thing you know about it ahead of time.

  • January 12, 2017 at 7:52 am
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    Love the casting of Woody! He’ll make a great old cranky/sarcastic smuggler/pilot type. I think that will fit the mood of the movie. Hunger Games Haymich was a good template.

  • January 12, 2017 at 12:01 pm
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    As positive as I am for this movie, which is very, I hope Disney aren’t heading towards another assembled cast. I was really disappointed with Rogue One. The characters portrayed by the likes of Mendelsohn, Mikkelsen, Ahmed, etc I found them to be extremely flat. Throwing as many characters into a movie as possible does not guarantee a great movie.

    • January 12, 2017 at 4:17 pm
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      Agreed. They should have merged some of the R1 characters. I was kinda reminded of The Hobbit – tons of characters and you don’t care about any of them.

    • January 12, 2017 at 9:43 pm
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      There will always be a percentage of disappointed people no matter what they do. Old saying…you can’t please everyone.

    • January 12, 2017 at 11:10 pm
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      Its just opinion and cant please everyone cause I completely disagree with you and think those were all great characters.

      • January 14, 2017 at 3:33 am
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        ROGUE ONE was one of my favorite star wars films ever.

  • January 12, 2017 at 11:11 pm
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    Was totally against this movie ever happening, and this just added more excitement. I cant wait to see this movie now

  • January 12, 2017 at 11:46 pm
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    Casual reminder that Lord and Miller are accomplished directors and this movie is the passion project writer Lawrence Kasdan always wanted to write. Does the movie need to be made? Obviously not, but there is absolutely no reason to think this movie is just being done to solely cash in on the character.

  • January 14, 2017 at 3:34 am
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    Where everyone knows your name… what’s up with a solo movie without harrison ford de-aged?

  • January 14, 2017 at 5:24 pm
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    Hopefully in a mask

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