“Hail, Caesar!” star Alden Ehrenreich is finalizing a deal to play young Han Solo in a “Star Wars” spinoff that Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will direct for Lucasfilm, multiple individuals familiar with the top-secret casting process have told TheWrap over the past week. Ehrenreich inherits the star-making role from Harrison Ford, who first played the space hero in George Lucas original “Star Wars.” Lord and Miller, the filmmakers behind “The Lego Movie,” are directing from a script by Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon Kasdan. Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy is producing the blockbuster, which will be executive produced by the elder Kasdan and Jason McGatlin. Also Read: 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story': Everything We Know So Far (Photos) Plot details are being kept under wraps, though it won’t quite be a typical origin story. Instead, the film is expected to follow Solo before he links up with the rebel alliance. Chewbacca will play a key role, and it’s entirely possible that young Han could cross paths with the bounty hunter known as Boba Fett.

Disney declined to comment. The studio will release the “Han Solo” movie on May 25, 2018. There has been rampant speculation that Ehrenreich could make his first appearance as Han Solo in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which Disney releases in December. While that cameo has yet to be confirmed, numerous Hollywood insiders tell TheWrap that Ehrenreich has landed the coveted role, for which he beat out thousands of actors — both established and unknown. Also Read: Mark Hamill Confirms Dark 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Lightsaber Theory Ehrenreich certainly has big shoes to fill, but two of Hollywood’s most revered directors already think he has the stuff to be a leading man. The 26-year-old actor was discovered at a friend’s bat mitzvah reception by none other than Steven Spielberg, who recognized star qualities in the young man. Ehrenreich quickly landed a lead role opposite Vincent Gallo in Francis Ford Coppola‘s 2009 drama “Tetro,” and he later reunited with the “Godfather” director on 2011’s “Twixt.”

Since then, Ehrenreich has worked with acclaimed filmmakers such as Woody Allen (“Blue Jasmine”), Park Chan-wook (“Stoker”), Richard LaGravenese (“Beautiful Creatures”) and the Coen brothers, who cast Ehrenreich as a major scene-stealer in their showbiz comedy “Hail, Caesar!” Ehrenreich also stars in Warren Beatty‘s upcoming movie about Howard Hughes and recently wrapped Alexandre Moors’ war drama “The Yellow Birds,” which is expected to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall. He’s represented by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Top 15 Best Stories Ever Told in the 'Star Wars' Universe (Photos) There are more “Star Wars” stories than even you can imagine, even if you think you can imagine quite a bit. These are the best ones Between the movies, TV shows, comics, video games, novels and reference books, you'd be hard-pressed to ever run out of stories to read about the "Star Wars" universe, past and present.

It's a big universe out there, and every story told in it is connected to all the others. Big stories are told as many different smaller ones, and small stories are told as chunks of a bigger picture.Inside Out Patio Furniture Dallas These are the best chunks, big or small, in the history of the "Star Wars" universe.Vintage Washer And Dryer For SaleTraveling in Colombia: The Best MomentsOutdoor Furniture China Alibaba Colombia is beautiful, colorful, and full of wonderful people. Here are the best things to do! AK Monthly Recap: August 2016 Here's the first look at my trip to Colombia, along with the other ways I spent this month in New York. Adventurous Kate’s Offbeat Guide to Cape Town This in-depth guide will inspire you to travel to Cape Town!

How I Choose Where to Travel Next Of all the places in the world, why do I go where I go? How to Survive Pre-Trip Anxiety What happens when pre-trip jitters turn into something more? Here's how to handle it. How to Rock a Trip to Johannesburg Most people skip Johannesburg. I'm telling you to give it a chance. Notes from the Brink of Age 32 As I turn 32, I wonder how I'll make peace without traveling as much. AK Monthly Recap: July 2016 It was the month of South Africa -- with a brief touch of Amsterdam! Visiting South Africa in the Winter: Worth It or Not? Winter -- or our summer -- is the perfect time to go on safari! Don’t Expect Travel To Solve Your Problems Traveling won't solve your problems -- you need to work on your issues as well. When I decided to take a 2.5-week solo trip to Colombia, I wanted to pack in as much variety as possible. Cities and rural areas, destinations for both locals and international travelers.

And I wanted to do it on a budget — not a shoestring, but enough of a budget to save money while still staying in private rooms, going on tours, and taking occasional flights to save hours of travel. It was the month of Colombia! I spent 19 days exploring my 64th country and getting back into the groove of long-term solo travel after several trips with friends and short solo excursions. Between Colombia and some good times at home, here are the best and worst moments of August 2016. Cartagena, Medellín, Guatapé, Salento, Valle del Cocora, Bogotá, and Zipaquirá,...  Cape Town is one of the most visually spectacular and culturally unique cities I have ever visited. It’s the cornerstone of a South Africa trip and a city you’ll be raving about afterwards to everyone you meet. Even so, it can take a bit of a learning curve to really get into Cape Town. Its charms beyond its natural beauty aren’t as obvious, and it isn’t as easy to navigate...  “How do you choose where to travel next?”

It surprises me whenever I hear it, but this is one of the most popular questions I get. And as much as I think I just pick a destination and go, it’s actually a more complicated process. Why not write a whole post about it? (And I’m not the only one! This week, the Traveling Canucks wrote a post on the very same topic. I wrote the first draft of this post on my flight from JFK to Cartagena, and I’m embarrassed to say that I almost didn’t get on the plane. As the departure date of my Colombia trip loomed, knots grew in my stomach. Was I only traveling because I thought I should be traveling? Did I want to be away from my friends and family in New York for 19 days when I had so many more travels coming up this...  “Is it really worth it to visit Johannesburg?”I think it’s great for any trip to South Africa, but especially your first. On my first trip to Joburg in 2012, I was absolutely shocked at how much I enjoyed it. So I definitely wanted us to return for our girls’ getaway to South Africa.

This was Beth’s first trip to the country and she gave me a lot of freedom in...  Imperfect Selfie: Relaxing in Koh Lanta, Thailand This week I turned 32. It’s had me deep in thought. 32 isn’t one of the more significant birthdays, but it’s been a while since I went through a year filled with so many changes. Every year I write a birthday post, talking about where I am now in this part of my life. For this year’s post, I’m illustrating it with several...  Finally, after seven months stateside, I broke out my worn navy passport and traveled abroad once again! I needed a break, but I still can’t believe it lasted seven months. This month was about South Africa. My friend Beth and I spent just over two weeks in the country, my third visit and her first. In addition to that, we spent a day in Amsterdam and the rest of my time was spent in the New...  “You’re going to South Africa in the winter? This was the reaction of most of my South African friends upon learning of my July travel plans.