'Star Wars' Han Solo Spinoff Casts 'Game of Thrones' Star Emilia Clarke as Female Lead
By Justin Kroll, Variety
The galaxy far, far away is inching closer. The Star Wars Han Solo spinoff has tapped Emilia Clarke as its female lead.
Clarke will star opposite Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover, who play Solo and fellow smuggler Lando Calrissian, respectively.
Selma and Creed star Tessa Thompson, Power Rangers actress Naomi Scott, and Zoë Kravitz tested for the role in October. Another group, which included Clarke, Kiersey Clemons, and Jessica Henwick, tested in London with Clarke ultimately landing the role.
Execs and directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who are also penning the script, had tested another group in September, but settled on another round after struggling to make their choice.
Related: ‘Star Wars’ — Donald Glover to Play Young Lando Calrissian in Han Solo Movie
The movie will be set prior to Star Wars: A New Hope, like the other upcoming Star Wars standalone project, Rogue One, which hits theaters on Dec. 16.
Kathleen Kennedy is producing the standalone film, which is expected to begin production in January, along with Ali Shearmur. The film hits theaters on May 25, 2018.
The latest movie in the expanding blockbuster franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opened in December of 2015, and has hauled almost $2.1 billion worldwide.
