It’s all happening tonight. Perhaps feeling that a ‘no-trailer or clips’ appearance at Comic-Con this week had let down fans hoping for a new look at The Force Awakens the internet has gifted us with two pieces of related news which more than make up for that shortfall.
Firstly, the guys who made The Lego Movie are taking on a Han Solo spin-off film as part of the Anthology series. This is big news. Not only are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller insanely talented they have a habit of finding the perfect line to walk with each of their films. The Lego Movie is an obvious example but the Jump Street films were far more successful than they had any right to be – now they’re in charge of the one of the most iconic sci-fi characters ever? We’re in.
This is not about the Anthology film which Josh Trank departed recently. That is presumed to be a Boba Fett movie and so this is the first we’ve heard about a future Anthology film. Get your casting choices in for a young Harrison Ford…
UPDATE: StarWars.com has just confirmed the news – also Lawrence Kasdan is writing the young Han Solo film with his son Jon Kasdan. Brief synopsis follows:
The story focuses on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.
The release date has been given as the 25th of May, 2018.
There is also a reassuring quote from Lord and Miller about taking on such a beloved character,
We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us. This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you’re late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you’ve loved since before you can remember having dreams at all.
Second rumour doing the rounds is perhaps less of a surprise but Birth Death Movies are running with the rumour that Darth Vader will play a part in Gareth Edwards Rogue One Anthology film. It makes sense considering the bridge the first anthology film needs to build between old and new, and it should certainly do much to wash out the taste of moany Annie and the Prequel Malaise.
So, no new trailers or clips perhaps for Star Wars at Comic-Con but perhaps we’ll hear a little about these two projects instead…
