Solo. A Star Wars Story, second chapter of series Star Wars Anthology after Rogue One, covers six years of Han Solo’s life, between 18 and 24 years of age, showing the first encounter with Chewbecca, how Han obtained Millennium Falco (that, according to The Empire Strikes Back, was won in card game sabacc from Lando Calrissian) and most of all how he got his name, which is not his birth one.
The film is screenplayed by Jon Kasdan and his father Lawrence, who had previously participated to the script of The Empire Stikes Back and The Force Awakens. Original soundtrack is signed by John Powell, known for Jason Bourne’s sensational score and for Ice Age and Dragon Trainer animated sagas, while photography is signed by Bradford Young, who engaged in sci-fi with Arrival.
The film is halfway between a crooks’ story and a western, and it’s clear from photography, which was inspired by Frederic Remington’s paintings’ colors. Shooting took place at Pinewood Studios before moving to Canaries and the editor is Italian Pietro Scalia, usual collaborator of Ridley Scott, who took Chris Dickens’s place.
Actually, the most sensational replacement is the one of both directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller just few weeks before end shooting. It appears that they had some disagreements with Kathleen Kennedy, who wanted takes from different angles to give editing more freedom, and also with Lawrence Kasdan, who did not appreciate actors’ excessive improvisation. Ron Howard took over directing and reshot several scenes, with other substitutions following like the one of Michael K with faithful Howard’s collaborator Paul Bettany.
Film’s protagonist is Alden Ehrenreich, chosen for Han Solo’s role among more than 3000 candidates, but not issueless considering that at some point an acting couch was called on set. This looks somehow unexpected considering that the 28-year-old Californian actor had already been working with directors such as Woody Allen in Blue Jasmine, Coen brothers in Ave, Cesar! And Warren Beatty in Rules don’t apply.
The cast is completed by Woody Harrelson who is at Han's side as mysterious mentor named Beckett, Emilia Clarke as Kira and Atlanta’s awarded author and actor Donald Glover who plays young Lando Calrissian.
