It would be a complete waste of my time – and yours – to launch into an introduction about the impact the Star Wars saga has had on the world of cinema since that iconic crawl first lit up the screen in the then simply-titled Star Wars back in 1977.
Over the next few years we gleefully sat through the first three releases – or Parts IV through VI; tolerated (some would say suffered) the next lot, i.e. Parts I, II and III at the turn of the century. We have had our passions reignited thanks to the superb recent Parts VII and VIII, while we wait with breathless anticipation for Part IX.
In the meantime, we also cheered on Rogue One, the first in series of standalones in the franchise. And now, we get to learn the back story of one of the saga’s – if not cinema’s – most beloved character, Han Solo.
Solo: A Star Wars Story charts the adventure-filled past of Han Solo. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo will meet his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounter the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian.
“He’s very authentic. He’s a scoundrel, he’s a maverick, and there’s a mystery to him. Handsome, incredibly charismatic and adorable – that’s a pretty great combination for a Star Wars action hero,” says producer Kathleen Kennedy, describing what makes Han Solo such an iconic and beloved character.
Kennedy and legendary Star Wars creator George Lucas both agreed that veteran screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, writer of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, would be the perfect person to write the film. “He knows Han Solo better than anybody,” says Kennedy. “Given his long association with Star Wars, and deep understanding of Han Solo’s character, there was no one better to tell the story, and preserve the spirit and feeling of the original movies.”
We wanted an actor who could find those traits that are so lovable, so roguish, about Han Solo
Kasdan admits that Solo “was always my favourite, right from the start. He’s the most exciting guy in the saga for me. He’s unpredictable. He’s reckless. He’s not brilliant. He’ll say things that he can’t back up. He’ll leap in when he should stay back. There’s nothing more attractive to me than a screw-up who’s actually got a good heart but hides it as best he can.”
Sharing Kasdan’s love for the character is his son – and the film’s co-writer Jonathan Kasdan. Jonathan remembers the films as being extremely influential on his development both as a writer and director; and the enthusiasm for the franchise and the character shared by the father and son formed a highly productive and creative rhythm between them.
Arguably, the biggest challenge facing the filmmakers was casting the actor who would play the iconic role. After all, global superstar Harrison Ford very much made the role his own, and his are certainly gigantic shoes to fill, as Kennedy attests.
“We weren’t looking for someone who looked like Harrison. We didn’t want an impersonation of him, nor his Han Solo. We wanted an actor who could find those traits that are so lovable, so roguish, about Han Solo.”
Those traits were evident in Alden Ehrenreich. Not a household name – a situation that is undoubtedly soon to change – the 28-year-old caught the attention of the filmmakers and critics alike with his scene-stealing performances in Blue Jasmine and Hail, Caesar!
“Alden tapped into the things that make the character special but without imitating Harrison,” says Kennedy. “He captured the essence, that maverick spirit. He was funny and charming, cool and handsome. He had all those qualities, but he also had that hidden vulnerability specific to Han. It was a very intuitive portrayal.”
No doubt rather daunted at the task ahead of him, Ehrenreich recognised the responsibility of taking on the role of such a beloved iconic character, and he was raring to go.
“There are so many things referenced in the original movie that the audience will get to see. Han meeting Chewie for the first time. Han’s first encounter with Lando. The Kessel Run. Han getting his blaster. And all the people Han encounters, the turns those relationships take… They have much to do with the person Han becomes. It was all a really thrilling prospect.”
And, no doubt audiences will be thrilled to watch the younger Han’s adventures unfold.
Solo: A Star Wars Story also stars Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Paul Bettany and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca. It is directed by Ron Howard.