This fandom spans four decades and three generations! Count on Star Wars fans to be on an alert every time something related to the franchise is about to come up. It is just a week until the second anthology in the Star Wars franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story, releases worldwide. This film is a stand-alone film entirely based on the most loved characters in the Star Wars series – Han Solo.
Before you step into the theatres on May 25th, 2018 for the film – here’s a quick guide of the all the characters you need to know to enjoy this awaited spin-off on our favourite hero: Solo! The film features Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Paul Bettany. Now, let’s get started in the most Star Wars-y fashion.
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“Punch it, Chewie!”
Alden Ehrenreich as the man himself – Han Solo
It is definitely difficult to see anyone other than Harrison Ford play Han Solo. But now, Alden Ehrenreich will take over the iconic role. Coming from the planet Corellia, Han is ‘best pilot in the entire galaxy’ with his lovely ride the ‘Millennium Falcon’ for four decades which he wins from Lando Calrissian in a bet. Joining him in his adventures flights is his Wookie co-pilot Chewbacca. Thanks to Princess Leia’s rebellion, they become one with the alliance to destroy the Galactic Empire. In Solo, Alden will be seen playing the young Han. George Lucas (the maker of Star Wars!) describes the character as "a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good”
Joonas Suotamo as best co-pilot of all time – Chewbacca
Han might have missed it. But Chewbacca a.k.a Chewie has met the Jedi Master Yoda himself! And that should be enough to know how important Chewie is. He is Wookie who is later saved and freed by Han when the Imperial forces are about to kill him. This is one relationship that has been warming our hearts right from the A New Hope (1977). Since this movie traces his journey before the original trilogy, we’ll see Han somehow save Chewbacca’s life, and earn the Wookiee’s eternal gratitude.
Better known as Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke as Qi’Ra
Other than knowing that we will see Emilia in a pivotal role in the film, not much is known about her character. According to a statement, her role is described as, “Han and Qi’ra are street kids on the industrial planet Corellia. They jump into the world of Corellia’s criminal underbelly, only to discover they are on the same mission for the same unscrupulous boss. When the job goes disastrously wrong, Han and Qi’ra are on the run – from pirates, a droid crime syndicate, the Empire, and their boss – and will have to learn to trust each other if they are going to survive.”
Qi’Ra becomes Han’s first real friend, and the two stick together for a long time. There is also a speculation that she is Han’s first love interest before he meets Princess Leia. Clarke has teased that “something must happen” between Han and Qi’Ra for her to disappear from Han’s life.
Donald Glover as the ultimate smuggler – Lando Calrissian
Billy Dee Williams in episode 5 (The Empire Strikes Back) and 6 (Return of The Jedi) showed us that a smooth-talking smuggler like Lando can also be one of our favourites. Trying to recreate the same magic on screen this time will be Donald Glover. He is also the first to possess the beautiful Millennium Falcon and his amazing Blaster Pistol. Lando and Han are friends with many other emotions in the undercurrent, making it a complicated one.
Woody Harrelson as Solo’s mentor – Tobias Beckett
Haymitch Abernathy from The Hunger Games is back at mentoring, this time with the young Solo. It’s just about the time when Tobias meets our hero, guiding him through some difficulties making him who we’ve known him to be all these years.
Thandie Newton as Val and Paul Bettany is Dryden Vos
New additions to the Star Wars Story are Val, a member of Beckett’s team, who has worked with Tobias crew for quite a while before coming across young Han.
Paul Bettany is playing the part of Dryden Vos, another new character who has been described as an “intergalactic gangster”.
Now, we're all set!
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