Lucasfilm brought the curtain down on Star Wars Celebration Europe this afternoon with the Future Filmmakers panel, which saw Rian Johnson, Phil Lord and Chris Miller offering up a few minor details about Star Wars: Episode VIII and the young Han Solo movie respectively.
First up came the announcement that for the first time in the Saga, there will be no time jump between Episodes VII and VIII, with next year’s sequel set to pick up immediately where we left on in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Johnson also spoke about the difference between the two films, stating that, while TFA was “an incredible explosion of adventure”, Episode VIII will delve into the characters, and challenge them.
Next was Lord and Miller, who spoke about their excitement to direct the Han Solo movie: “This is a guy who, on the playground, everyone was fighting who gets to play Han Solo. He’s a maverick, he’s a scoundrel, he’s clever but he’s not smart. He positions himself as this tough guy, but in the end he does the right thing.”
After officially introducing our new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich, Lord and Miller spoke about the audition process, stating that: “We turned over every rock to find someone who has the charisma and magic swagger… But it was a waste of money because the person to get the part was literally the first person to walk through the door.”
It was also revealed that Lord and Miller came close to cameoing in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story but couldn’t make it, although Rian Johnson appears as a Death Star Trooper, while Rogue One director Edwards also cameos in Episode VIII:
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Originally published July 17, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
