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Will one of these actors play a young Han Solo in a 'Star Wars' film?

Actors including Taron Egerton and Emory Cohen are reportedly still contenders for the role of the smuggler. The stand-alone Han Solo movie is scheduled to be released in 2018.

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Lucasfilm Ltd./Business Wire
The original 'Star Wars' film stars Peter Mayhew (l.), Mark Hamill (second from l.), Alec Guinness (second from r.), and Harrison Ford (r.).

Disney is reportedly a little closer to deciding who will take on the role of a young Han Solo in an upcoming “Star Wars” movie.

The Hollywood Reporter, citing unnamed sources, reports that several actors are still in consideration for the role. Hollywood Reporter writer Borys Kit writes that Jack Reynor, whom audiences have seen in films including “Macbeth”; Taron Egerton, who starred in the film “Kingsman: The Secret Service”; Alden Ehrenreich, probably best known to viewers for his work in the film “Hail, Caesar!”; and “Brooklyn” actor Emory Cohen all tested in some way for the role. 

Those same unnamed sources say other actors could still be contenders as well.

Disney did not comment. The film, which is set to focus on the adventures of Han Solo before he met wise Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, is co-directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, who have co-directed films including “The Lego Movie” and “21 Jump Street.” 

The smuggler has long been one of the most popular characters in the series since actor Harrison Ford originated the role in the original 1977 “Star Wars” film.

Because the character is so beloved, creating this movie will no doubt be a daunting task (as will casting the role of Han). “Whomever is cast in this upcoming film won’t be so lucky – they’ll have to live up to the memory of a character who’s almost universally adored by audiences,” David Sims of The Atlantic wrote of the movie. “… Any new actor in the role will be saddled with the choice between trying to imitate Ford or creating their own take on the character, and both will be a tough sell.” 

But one event in the “Star Wars” universe may make the challenge a bit easier for whichever actor is chosen. 

(Spoilers for the most recent “Star Wars” film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” follow…) 

As “Star Wars” fans know, the most recent film in the series ended with Han Solo being killed by his son, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). 

So presumably Ford will not be appearing in any of the future films, including the planned eighth and ninth movies in the official trilogy.

Entertainment Weekly writer Anthony Breznican wrote before “Force” was released, “A young Han Solo film sounds like a no-brainer to pull off, but it’s actually an extremely tricky maneuver. If Ford is finally back as the character in the new trilogy, there’s potential to confuse the pop-culture hive-mind by introducing an apparent reboot: Han Solo – again – but this time played by a younger actor in a different story.” 

But now that Ford seems to be out, whichever actor is finally chosen will be the only incarnation of the character in movie theaters. 

The solo Han Solo movie is set to be released in 2018.

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