Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Han Solo movie: Woody Harrelson officially joins Star Wars standalone prequel

The directors praised his acting talents and ping pong skills

Christopher Hooton
Thursday 12 January 2017 08:27 GMT
Comments
(Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Woody Harrelson has officially entered the Star Wars universe, Disney has confirmed.

The Hunger Games, True Detective and No Country For Old Men actor was rumoured to be signing up as a mentor to a young Han at the start of the year, and while there was no official word on his character today, we definitely now know he is playing a major one.

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

The still as-yet-untitled Han Solo film is designed as a standalone to the main Star Wars movies as opposed to a straight prequel and is set "during the early scoundrel days" of the smuggler.

Harrelson will join actors Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian), and Emilia Clarke in the film, which Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy previously said will have the feel of a Western.

This wouldn’t be Harrelson’s first time playing a mentor-figure, having been by Katniss Everdeen’s side as Haymitch in The Hunger Games franchise.

The young Han Solo movie is scheduled for release on 25 May, 2018.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in