Paul Bettany has already wrapped his scenes for the young Han Solo spinoff movie, and director Ron Howard's set photo marking the occasion shows off some of the set they were shooting on. A veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bettany became a part of Disney's other mega cash cow just a couple of weeks ago when he took on an undisclosed role in Han Solo, which continues to make its way through production under Howard's steady hand. This is the third time the two have collaborated in their careers, following A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code.
When Howard took over for the fired Phil Lord and Chris Miller in late June, it was reported filming would run through September, so it was never expected Bettany's part would be all that substantial. Given the timing of it all, it was always likely to be of the supporting variety, and that is very much the case. Shortly after coming onboard, Bettany is biding the galaxy far, far away farewell.
Taking to Twitter, Howard shared another behind-the-scenes image, this one of him and Bettany smiling for the camera as they commemorate the actor's time on set. In his typical classy fashion, Howard praised his friend's performance, saying it was a terrific turn from a "world class talent." You can see the picture in the space below:
There seems to be some level of confusion when it comes to uncovering details about Bettany's mystery character. Initially, it was said he was replacing Michael K. Williams (who was unavailable for reshoots due to scheduling conflicts), but further word indicated Bettany was playing an all-new individual. The truth could be somewhere in between. When Williams was involved, he was portraying a human/alien hybrid that served as a link between Han and Emilia Clarke's character, Kira. Because of the character's ties to two of the leads, the part probably had some importance - even if it's not a principal role. Perhaps the character was rewritten when Bettany (who is said to portray an all-human) signed on in order to accommodate for the changes. The set he and Howard are on bears some resemblance to a Collector-esque museum that was seen in set photos earlier this year, so Bettany could be serving a similar role as a liaison - just as a different person altogether.
It'll be interesting to explore this unique location in full when Han Solo comes out, but the tease Howard is offering certainly is tantalizing. In the foreground is what appears to be a taxidermied creature enclosed in a glass case, and fans are trying to figure out if that's the silhouette of one Boba Fett in the background. Though the standalone looks to expand upon things that were referenced in the original trilogy, it's also adding new corners to Star Wars lore. Han told Luke Skywalker he had flown from one side of the galaxy to the other, so we should see some strange stuff.
MORE: Han Solo Movie To Show Corellia & Kessel
Source: Ron Howard
