Star Wars: Han Solo Film Begins Shooting in February 2017

Screen Rant

By Molly Freeman

Published Dec 16, 2016

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirms the Star Wars anthology movie following a young Han Solo will begin filming February 2017.

In 1977 George Lucas launched Star Wars, a now-massively popular and beloved sci-fi action/adventure franchise. The series included an original trilogy that hit theaters in the late '70s and early '80s, while the prequel trilogy debuted throughout the late '90s and early-t0-mid '00s. Then, when Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the annoucement arrived with a promise that the Star Wars franchise would continue -- first with Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens in 2015, and expanding to include more episodic installments as well as spinoff anthology films.

The first anthology movie arrives this week in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which will be followed next year by Star Wars: Episode VIII, with the second spinoff scheduled to hit theaters in 2018. The second anthology film will be another original trilogy prequel, following the character of Han Solo prior to his adventures with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Now, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reveals when cameras will start rolling on the Han Solo film.

When asked by journalist Lizo Mzimba how far along Lucasfilm is on the Han Solo movie, Kennedy said, "We’re actually very close, we’re going to start shooting in February." Her comment indicates Han Solo will start filming in early 2017 -- confirming a previous report -- likely in order to meet the movie's May 2018 release date (though this could potentially shift since Disney has slated all preceding Star Wars movies for December debuts).

In terms of what has been confirmed about the Han Solo standalone feature, Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The LEGO Movie, 21 Jump Street) will direct from a script penned by Lawrence Kasdan (co-writer of all three original trilogy films as well as The Force Awakens) and his son Jon. Earlier this year it was announced that Hail, Caesar! standout Alden Ehrenreich had been cast as Han Solo -- and he is tasked with putting his own spin on the part originated by Harrison Ford.

Additionally, Atlanta's Donald Glover joins the film as a younger Lando Calrissian (previously played by Billy Dee Williams), while Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke will portray a new character. Plus, Han Solo's fan-favorite companion, Chewbacca, will appear in the anthology movie along with the smuggler's famous ship, the Millenium Falcon. Still, it remains to be seen what other characters will be featured in leading roles -- and whether any of them will be familiar to Star Wars fans.

That said, with filming on the Han Solo movie set to begin in roughly two months' time, it's possible we may learn more as set photos and/or additional key cast members. At the very least, other teases and information may be revealed so that fans will get a better idea of what to expect from a Han Solo movie that has been said to have a "heist or Western type feel."