Alden Ehrenreich, who will play Han Solo, attends the Star Wars Celebration 2016 at ExCel on July 17, 2016 in London, England. (Photo : Getty Images/Ben A. Pruchnie)
After months of speculation, Alden Ehrenreich was officially introduced as the actor who will be playing the role of a younger Han Solo in the upcoming standalone prequel on July 17, Sunday.
Two months after reports emerged that the "Hail, Caesar!" actor was signed on to portray the iconic role, previously played by Harrison Ford, the news was confirmed during the Future Filmmaker Panel at the Star Wars Celebration Europe event in London, according to People.
The panelists included Ehrenheich himself, John Boyega, directors Rian Johnson, Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill also joined the panel discussion.
"You're the new Han Solo! Damn!" said Boyega, who made his debut in last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," as he introduced Ehrenheich on to the stage, IMDB tweeted.
Miller told audience members that Han Solo's role was the most difficult casting choice they ever faced. "They were the biggest boots to fill," he said. Miller and Lord will be directing the untitled standalone film, which is slated to hit theaters in 2018, as previously reported.
Ehrenheich, 26, emerged as the top choice out of 3,000 actors who auditioned for the coveted role, including the likes of Miles Teller, Scott Eastwood, Ansel Elgort, Dave Franco and Tom Felton among others. Miller said they made their final choice by choosing the "first person who talked through the door," according to US Weekly.
The actor was Steven Spielberg's discovery. The filmmaker was impressed by him after seeing him at a Bat Mitzvah when he was only 14 years of age in a movie screened at the event, after which he set up a meeting with a casting director at Dreamworks.
The actor then made his debut as an actor in a feature film with Francis Forc Coppola's 2009 film "Tetro." His other film credits include Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" and upcoming romantic drama "Rules Don't Apply."
More details about the young actor in the video below:
