The search for a new scruffy-looking nerf herder is over! It has been confirmed that American actor Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as a young Han Solo in an upcoming Star Wars spinoff titled Han Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The star won the coveted role after going up against Jack Reynor and BAFTA-nominee Aaron Egerton. However, the 26-year-old actor is relatively unknown, with his most well-known roles including Ethan Water in Beautiful Creatures, and Hobie Doyle in Hail, Caesar!
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe role of the dashing space smuggler was made famous by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy, with the star recently reprising the iconic role as an older Han Solo in the latest franchise installment Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.
Fans have been quick to praise the casting news, with one Twitter user writing: "As much as it kills me to think of someone other than Harrison Ford playing Han Solo, I think this guy they've cast looks pretty good", while another wrote: "Anyone who saw Hail Caesar!, in which Alden Ehrenreich stole the screen from a dozen giant stars, is very happy about this Han Solo news."
21 Jump Street and Lego Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are signed on to direct the prequel which will reportedly take place following the events of Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith but before Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, therefore focusing on the adventures of a young Han Solo before he meets Luke Skywalker and falls in love with Princess Leia.
The planned Han Solo film is due to be released in 2018, following the first Star Wars spinoff story Rogue One, which stars Felicity Jones as a "reckless, aggressive and undisciplined" rebel who is charged with stealing plans for the villainous weapon, the Death Star. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega will also be reprising their roles as Rey and Finn respectively in Star Wars: Episode VIII in 2017.
