Top row, from left: Chris Pine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Gosling and Shia LaBeouf. Bottom row: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Hemsworth, Garrett Hedlund, Logan Lerman, Nicholas Hoult, Sam Claflin and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. AP file photos
Star Wars: Who should play young Han Solo?
Published: 2/11/2013 3:00 PM
Last Modified: 2/11/2013 4:56 PM
With news that Disney/Lucasfilms is working on a movie featuring a young Han Solo, there has been plenty of Internet speculation about who will take over the role of the beloved space smuggler. Some have tried to narrow it down while others have taken a shotgun approach, throwing out everyone in hopes that they can say they got it right.
It's safe to say Disney will want someone with a recognizable name, but it's not a lock they'll want a superstar. Also, Ford was 33 when the original "Star Wars" began production in 1976. Filming on a Solo movie probably wouldn't start for another couple of years ("Episode VII" will take priority), so an actor would have to be able to pull off looking younger than Ford did in "A New Hope" when production begins (how much younger is still unknown).
With all that in mind, here are my thoughts on some of the names that I've seen and the ones that would make the best fit (this is by no means an exhaustive list):
Already stars
Chris Pine: If Disney execs want to see some Trekkie heads explode, this is who they should cast. He's already playing a similar ladies' man character as James T. Kirk. I don't see Pine as Solo, though, even though it would be fun just to see the Internet posts. (IMDB profile)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: I would love to see Gordon-Levitt in this part. He's shown he can do action films with "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Rises," and he's got the acting chops to play the role without having it devolve into an imitation of Ford. He's already 31 but he looks young, so he might be able to pull it off. (IMDB profile)
Robert Pattinson: I include this simply to say it won't happen. No Star Wars fan will pay to see Edward Cullen playing Han Solo. Pattinson can't act (sorry, Twi-hards), and a sure way to sour fans on Disney's Star Wars fans would be to cast Pattinson. (IMDB profile)
Ryan Gosling: I've seen his name on several sites, but he's another actor I can't see getting the part. He's a big star, but the downside is the same as Pattinson. At least Gosling can act. (IMDB profile)
Shia LaBeouf: Out of the actors in this category, he's the one most likely to be cast in the role. And it would be a horrible choice. He already rode the "Transformers" franchise until it died, and he did a bad job in a bad part in the worst "Indiana Jones" film. He'd be a box office draw, and he wouldn't sour fans as much as Gosling or Pattinson, but there are better options out there. (IMDB profile)
Rising stars
Taylor Kitsch: Kitsch could be a strong possibility, but Hollywood and especially Disney may have soured on him a little after "John Carter" and "Battleship" both flopped. (IMDB profile)
Liam Hemsworth: For now, he's still the little brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), but his name has been growing since he was cast as Gale in "The Hunger Games." He's probably one of the favorites to land the role. (IMDB profile)
Garrett Hedlund: Disney has already shown they trust Hedlund with a sequel to "Tron: Legacy," which brought in more than $400 million worldwide. If the Mouse truly believes in him, we could see him piloting the Millennium Falcon, too. (IMDB profile)
Logan Lerman: The star of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" has a chance to show he can be a box office draw with "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters" due out later this year. I enjoyed Lerman in the first "Percy Jackson" film, but that movie didn't live up to expectations. If the second installment fares better, he would be an interesting choice, especially if the movie features Han in his early to mid-20s. (IMDB profile)
Nicholas Hoult: This is another actor who is trying to prove he can bring people to the box office. He was excellent as Hank McCoy in "X-Men: First Class," and he is currently drawing positive reviews in "Warm Bodies," which has made an estimated $37 million so far. He'll play Jack in "Jack the Giant Slayer" in a couple of weeks. If that proves to be a hit, you'll see his name attached to bigger movies. I don't think he has the swagger to pull off Han, but some of the clips from "Jack the Giant Slayer" makes me think I might be wrong. (IMDB profile)
Sam Claflin: I'm not sure what to make of this choice. He has the looks to play a young Harrison Ford, but he hasn't had to carry a movie yet. If he makes a splash as Finnick in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," there's a good chance we could see him making the Kessel Run. (IMDB profile)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson: This is who I want to see in the role, but it won't happen. He was great in "Kick-Ass" and strong again "Savages," but he isn't a big enough name. Unless "Kick-Ass 2" rakes in money, there's little chance he'd be cast as Han. (IMDB profile)
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Written by
James Royal
Staff Writer
