"The Hunger Games" actor Woody Harrelson is in early talks to play Han Solo's mentor in "Star Wars" spin-off film. He might help guide another iconic character's journey.
If his casting proceeds, Harrelson is the top choice to play an early mentor to Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) in the upcoming untitled "Star Wars" spinoff, Variety reported. The ensemble for the "Star Wars" spinoff film has already begun filling with rising stars. However, the executives wanted this role to go to an actor with considerable clout and started meeting with actors over the past several weeks.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney and Lucasfilm were looking for a big name for the mentor role, a search that, at one time, included "Batman" star Christian Bale. "Spider-Man: Homecoming" actor Donald Glover will play young Lando Calrissian alongside "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke in an undisclosed role.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing the "Star Wars" spinoff. Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur are producing. Harrelson and Shearmur have close ties from their work on "The Hunger Games," when Shearmur was overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
The Han Solo's "Star Wars" spinoff film will be set prior to "Star Wars: A New Hope," like the first "Star Wars" stand-alone film, "Rogue One." The latter hit theaters on Dec. 16, 2016 and has earned more than $789 million worldwide at the global box office to date.
In the past year, Harrelson has kept busy, appearing in the cop drama "Triple Nine," "Now You See Me 2," "Wilson," and "LBJ." He is best known as a mentor to Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in "The Hunger Games" franchise.
Harrelson was recently in seen in STX's coming-of-age dramedy "The Edge of Seventeen." His upcoming credits include the adaptation of "The Glass Castle" opposite Brie Larson and Fox's highly anticipated "War of the Planet of the Apes," in which he plays the new antagonist. He is represented by CAA.
The "Star Wars" spinoff film is expected to begin production in this January and is slated to hit theaters on May 25, 2018.
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