(pasted from my podcasts blog)

The next film in the Star Wars Anthology series of spin-off films has been announced. Whilst no title has been released, the film will be about a young Han Solo and how he “became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley”.

When the Disney/Lucasfilm deal was announced, as well as the plans for the future of Star Wars – I really didn’t know how to feel. In the space of a few hours I went from utter repulsion, to cautious optimism and eventually in to the hyped fanboy that I am now. But there has always been some hesitance to one particular element of that initial announcement – the spin-off films.

Now known as the ‘Star Wars Anthology’ series, these spin-offs were initially reported to be origin films, with most places citing Yoda, Boba Fett and Han Solo as the first three in the works. Although I think opening up the franchise beyond the episodic saga is a great idea that opens up so many different possible avenues (hey, it’s basically the EU in film form), I am very unsure if origin stories are the way to go. I would much rather get the opportunity to fall in love with new characters than explore the backstories of already beloved ones, just like what they seem to be doing with Gareth Edwards ‘Rogue One’.

Since the Disney acquisition, everything has been about pushing Star Wars forward. Even things like the ‘Star Wars Rebels’ series, whilst set prior to the original trilogy, focus on brand new characters. This is why I can’t help but feel like this announcement seems like a bit of a step backwards. Up until this point, the Anthology films have seemed like more of a sandbox for emerging talent to play in the Star Wars universe, similar to how George Lucas originally visioned the series in the very early days. But origin stories? To me that seems more like a choice that was probably made by the higher ups to cash in on the recognition of characters like Han, Yoda and Boba Fett.

But there is something about this that makes me optimistic and that is the team behind it. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the guys responsible for the bloody LEGO Movie are directing! And to top that? Lawrence Kasdan, the man who writes Han Solo the best will be helming the screenplay, along with his son. This suggests to me that the folks at Lucasfilm are very well aware that fans will be hesitant at the mere idea of a young Han Solo movie and are letting us know that it is in safe hands by putting a great team behind it.

And you know what? Han Solo isn’t necesarily a bad character to explore the backstory of. Unlike delving in to how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, this isn’t a ‘see how a good man became evil’ story. Han is a scoundrel and we’re likely gonna see just that. Hell, one of the most loved pieces of the Star Wars Legends novels is a trilogy about a Young Han Solo!

But I haven’t touched on the elephant in the room – who should play a younger Han Solo? Well…I’ve got nothing. No doubt the internet will be full of cries for Chris Pratt or Nathan Fillion to take the role, but they have done very similar parts in the past and I’m sure they would like to try other things. One guy who does stand out though is Anthony Ingruber, who played a younger Harrison Ford in ‘Age of Adaline’. I haven’t actually seen the film, but he looks and sounds the part and from all accounts did a great job in it. I’m sure as well that more of an unknown actor would be beneficial in helping us get to grips with somebody else playing the role.

All in all, I’m not completely sold on the concept on an origin film for Han Solo – but it does have potential. If anything my excitement is coming from the team behind it and not the idea itself. I’m cautiously optimistic about the whole thing, the potential and talent behind the project to make this a really fun movie are all there and I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.

http://www.extendededition.net/han-solo-spin-off/