Woody Harrelson Eyed to Play Han Solo’s Mentor in ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff (EXCLUSIVE)
JANUARY 3, 2017 | 02:04PM PT

After playing a mentor to Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” franchise, Woody Harrelson might help guide another iconic character’s journey.

Sources tell Variety that, while talks are still in the early stages, Harrelson is the top choice to play Han Solo’s mentor in the upcoming “Star Wars” spinoff starring Alden Ehrenreich.

Donald Glover and Emilia Clarke also star, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing. Disney had no comment.

The movie will be set prior to “Star Wars: A New Hope,” like the other “Star Wars” standalone project, “Rogue One,” which hit theaters on Dec. 16.

Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur are producing the spinoff film, which is expected to begin production in January. The movie is slated to hit theaters on May 25, 2018. Harrelson and Shearmur have close ties from their work on “The Hunger Games,” when Shearmur was overseeing the project for Lionsgate.

The ensemble has already begun filling with rising stars, but executives wanted this role to go to an actor with considerable clout, and started meeting with actors over the past several weeks.

The first “Star Wars Story,” “Rogue One,” has set the bar high. Along with overwhelmingly positive reviews, it has grossed more than $800 million worldwide, and is still in theaters.

In the past year, Harrelson has kept busy, appearing in the cop drama “Triple Nine,” “Now You See Me 2,” “LBJ,” and “The Edge of Seventeen.”

The coming year looks just as busy, with “The Glass Castle” opposite Brie Larson, “Wilson,” and the highly anticipated “War of the Planet of the Apes,” in which he plays the new antagonist. He is repped by CAA.

Borys Kit
@Borys_Kit

True that Disney & Lucasfilm wanted someone big for HAN SOLO...before Woody Harrelson, CHRISTIAN BALE was the other big name in the mix.
5:19 PM - 3 Jan 2017

Nico Sotomayor
‏@nicosotomayor00

Two Han Solos grabbing lunch.

Veteran film and television actor Woody Harrelson is stepping aboard the upcoming Han Solo movie set to arrive in theaters next year.

Harrelson, known for wide-ranging roles in film and TV such as The Hunger Games, No County 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.”

The as-yet-untitled movie, which is being produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, and Simon Emanuel, is scheduled for release in 2018.

Chatting with Variety about his new movie “Wilson”, Harrelson was asked straight up if he was playing Garris Shrike in the “Star Wars” flick, to which he hemmed and hawed and finally answered, “Yeah, I am.”

Now, a couple of things: first, there’s already some debates on the internet about whether or not Woody Harrelson was confirming he’s in the movie or playing Garris Shrike (see the video below and come to your own conclusion). Secondly, the new saga and spinoff films thus far haven’t directly used non-canon, expanded universe fare so it’s probably a safe bet that Phil Lord and Chris Miller will tweak Garris Shrike to suit their needs. But in case you’re wondering who exactly this character is, here’s a quick summary from Wookieepedia:

Garris Shrike was the man who raised Han Solo. As a young man, he was a bounty hunter, but his quick temper kept him from collecting many live bounties. Instead, he turned to crime, collecting a group of orphans whom he used in confidence tricks and thefts, based aboard the decommissioned troopship Trader’s Luck in orbit over Corellia. One of those orphans was Han Solo. Shrike rescued Solo from the streets, raised him, trained him, and beat him profusely when aggravated.

Star Wars: ‘Fleabag’ Star Eyed for Key Role in ‘Han Solo’ Spinoff (EXCLUSIVE)
Justin Kroll Film Reporter @krolljvar
FEBRUARY 8, 2017 | 04:20PM PT

Following her critically acclaimed turn in the Amazon series “Fleabag,” actress Pheobe Waller-Bridge is in talks for a key role in the upcoming “Star Wars” Han Solo spinoff starring Alden Ehrenreich.

The role would be a CGI-driven performance from Waller-Bridge but would still be a significant part of the ensemble, similarly to key Star Wars characters in the past like Chewbacca, C-3P0 and most recently, Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO in “Rogue One.”

Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke co-star star in the Disney-Lucasfilm film, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing.

The untitled Han Solo pic is set prior to “Star Wars: A New Hope,” like the other “Star Wars” standalone project, “Rogue One.”

Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur will produce with production slated to begin in January. The movie hits theaters on May 25, 2018.

The first “Star Wars Story,” “Rogue One,” has set the bar high. Along with overwhelmingly positive reviews, the film has already grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide since opening Dec. 16.

Cutting her teeth in British TV realm in shows like “Broadchurch” and “Drifters”, Waller-Bridge broke out on the scene with her series “Crashing.” She would follow that series up with her Amazon series “Fleabag”, which she created and stars in.

The show has already received critical acclaim earning Critics Choice nominations for series and Waller Bridge.

She is repped by UTA, Independent Talent Group aileen mcewan and pj shapiro .

Thandie Newton In Talks for Han Solo Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
Justin Kroll Film Reporter @krolljvar
FEBRUARY 10, 2017 | 03:26PM PT

“Westworld” star Thandie Newton may be heading to a galaxy far, far away.

Sources tell Variety the actress is in negotiations to join the upcoming Han Solo spinoff starring Alden Ehrenreich.

Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke co-star in the Disney-Lucasfilm film, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing.

As Variety exclusively reported this week, “Fleabag” actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also in talks for a key role. Newton’s character is unknown.

The untitled Han Solo movie hits theaters May 25, 2018.

Produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur, “Solo” takes place before the original “Star Wars: A New Hope,” similarly to the recent spinoff, “Rogue One,” which has amassed over a billion dollars worldwide.

Newton is coming off her critically acclaimed turn in HBO’s “Westworld” as Maeve, the renegade robot whose gutty performance earned her 2 SAG (Best performance and ensemble in a drama) nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. She stars filming Xavier Dolan’s “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan” in March and is expected to return to “Westworld” for its second season, which begins shooting later this year.

She is repped by WME, Untitled Entertainment and Independent Talent Group.