Will One of These Actors Become the New Han Solo?

The new Han Solo may debut in this year’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!

Officially announced by Lucasfilm last year, The LEGO Movie helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are gearing up to direct a still-untitled Star Wars Anthology film that will follow Han Solo. While there have been rumors since the film was announced about who might become the new Han Solo, Variety today reports that the shortlist is down to about 12 names, eight of which are currently known. What’s more, the trade suggests that casting is happening now because of a potential appearance by the new Han Solo in this December’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!

Alleged candidates to play the new Han Solo include Emory Cohen (Brooklyn), Scott Eastwood (The Longest Ride), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars), Dave Franco (21 Jump Street), Blake Jenner (Everybody Wants Some), Logan Lerman (Fury), Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Miles Teller (Whiplash).

The screenplay for the Han Solo movie is written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan and will focus on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.

Technically, the new film marks the second Han Solo casting from Lord and Miller. Voice actor Keith Ferguson played the part in their The LEGO Movie. Now, though, the search is on for a new star to take over the role made famous by Harrison Ford.  

Lawrence Kasdan, the writer and director known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Big Chill, and Grand Canyon, is familiar to “Star Wars” fans for having co-written the screenplays for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His son Jon Kasdan wrote and directed The First Time, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and In the Land of Women, as well as writing for the television series “Freaks and Geeks” and “Dawson’s Creek.”

Slated for a May 25, 2018 release, the Han Solo movie will be executive produced by Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin and co-produced by Will Allegra. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, meanwhile, hits theaters December 16, 2016.

Check out our gallery of the new Han Solo candidates in the gallery viewer below and let us know if you’ve got a favorite!