The second film in the Star Wars Anthology series will not be about Boba Fett, as rumors had suggested, but instead everyone's favorite smuggler-turned-hero, Han Solo.
Lucasfilm yesterday confirmed the new star of the upcoming Star Wars film, which is set for theatrical release on May 25, 2018, while also revealing the next adventure in the Anthology series will be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, directors of The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street.
According to Lucasfilm, "The story focuses on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skyawlker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered int he cantina on Mos Eisley." The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote the screenplays for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens, and his son Jon Kasdan, whose resume includes writing for Freaks and Geeks and Dawson's Creek.
As I had mentioned, previous rumors suggested the second film in the Star Wars Anthology, a series of spin-off movies that further explore and expand the Star Wars universe, would focus on a Boba Fett origin story, possibly giving us insight on the conflict between him and Han Solo. With the announcement that this new film will focus on Solo, Boba Fett's future remains unclear. It's possible he could make an appearance in this film, or that he'll get the spotlight in another spinoff, but for now we're focusing on the smuggler. I could definitely see Disney and Lucasfilm giving Boba Fett his own film though and then linking it up with Han Solo to make a trilogy out of it.
The question now is, who will Lucasfilm get to play Han Solo? We've got our own suggestion — Anthony Ingruber.
Star Wars: Rogue One is the first movie in the Anthology Series, and is due for release on December 16, 2016. The film is set between the third (Revenge of the Sith) and fourth (A New Hope) films in the core Star Wars saga, and revolves around "a rogue band of resistance fighters who unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring new hope to the galaxy." A brief teaser, shown to the audience at Star Wars Celebration, leaked online shortly afterward (you can watch it above).
Just to recap, here's the upcoming lineup of Star Wars films:
- Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force AWakens – December 18, 2015
- Star Wars: Rogue One – December 16, 2016
- Star Wars: Episode VIII – May 26, 2017
- Star Wars Han Solo Anthology Film (not yet titled) – May 25, 2018
