Disney’s young Han Solo search narrows (Exclusive)

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Hundreds of actors vied for the coveted role of Han Solo in an upcoming "Star Wars" film

The list of potential stars has been whittled down to a handful of actors, according to sources

The Hollywood Reporter  — 

Chewie, we’re almost home.

The search for the young actor who will fill Han Solo’s leather vest could be in its final stages, as multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that a shortlist quietly has emerged.

According to sources, last weekend in London tests were conducted involving actors Alden Ehrenreich, who did scene-stealing work in “Hail, Caesar!”; Jack Reynor, best known for his work in “Transformers: Age of Extinction”; and Taron Egerton, the star of “The Kingsman” and “Eddie the Eagle.”

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Sources say there could be a few other names on the list, though due to the high level of secrecy on all “Star Wars” projects, it’s hard to ascertain them. Disney declined to comment.

Those who tested — and it’s unclear if these were costume tests or screen tests — were plucked from a previous group of around 10 actors who met with the directors. Among the names whispered to have met are Miles Teller, the “Whiplash” star who appears in the “Divergent” movies; and Ansel Elgort, the “Fault in Our Stars” star who also is in the “Divergent” movies.

Emory Cohen, who played Saoirse Ronan’s love interest in the Oscar-nominated “Brooklyn,” also tested. Actors from Richard Linklater’s new movie “Everybody Wants Some” also had meetings, according to sources.

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Disney and Lucasfilm have searched from Alderaan to Yavin to find the new star, with sources saying that more than 2,500 actors have either met with those in charge of casting or put themselves on tape, becoming part of one of the widest casting calls ever.

As THR reported in December, Disney cast a wide net to find the right actor to play a younger version of the character made famous by Harrison Ford in 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope,” as well as “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Return of the Jedi” and 2015’s “The Force Awakens.”

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The character will debut in a “Star Wars” spinoff movie being made by Disney, Lucasfilm and filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“21 Jump Street,” “The Lego Movie”) and scheduled for 2018.

Ford’s swaggering Solo is considered a standout character of the seven-film “Star Wars series.” The 73-year-old actor’s appearance as Solo in “The Force Awakens” was a major factor in the movie’s critical and commercial success.