Star Wars Spinoffs: X-Men Director Supports Nicholas Hoult as Han Solo

Since Disney's Robert Iger announced during a recent investor call that the studio was looking at developing at least two spinoff films set in the Star Wars universe but not officially part of the Episode VII through IX movies currently being developed by J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt et. al., speculation has run wild as to which characters might be ripe for their own films and--assuming one of them isn't Yoda, who can be digitally rendered to look just as young (?) as he was in 1983--who might play the characters in the films. One of the most popular rumors has been that Nicholas Hoult, currently starring in Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Slayer and due to reprise his role as Hank McCoy in X-Men: Days of Future Past, might be in line to take on the role of a young Han Solo. Apparently Singer, who's directing Days of Future Past as well, agrees. "I don't know anything, but I literally would not be surprised if something like that happened," he told Moviefone of the possibility. "I almost said something to Nick today about it, like, 'You know, I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself in one of those.' But I have no idea, even though I'm working with Simon Kinberg every day and he is involved with that franchise, I have no information about that. It's just my own intuition." Kinberg is one of the writers credited with work on X-Men: Days of Future Past, according to the Internet Movie Database. He's also written or co-written X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Currently, he and The Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan are reportedly working on scripts for Star Wars spinoffs, as well as serving as consultants to J.J. Abrams as he works with screenwriter Michael Arndt on Star Wars Episode VII.