If you thought fans were the only ones kept in the dark about the latest news in the world of Star Wars, star of the upcoming Han Solo spin-off film Woody Harrelson recently revealed to The Hollywood Reporter the steps Lucasfilm takes to keep its secrets, even from its potential stars.
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Of the script-reading process, Harrelson explained, “Definitely [Star Wars] has more secrecy than anything ever. You get an e-reader; you don’t get a script. They give it to you, and you give it back after you read it.“
It wasn’t quite as easy with Harrelson, as his family life presented some complications. The actor noted, “But I was like, ‘I’ve got to be with my family, I got to go home.’ I’d been home in Maui one week since November. But I met with [directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller] one night, and we hung out and we went over to Matthew Freud’s and played ping pong and just had a great time. They were really good guys.”
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Harrelson is no stranger to big budget blockbusters, having previously starred in the Hunger Games films, so he clearly knew what he was getting into.
“I’ve been enjoying it [since then], especially because we just went to [shoot at] the Dolomites in Italy. [Co-star] Thandie Newton said, ‘It’s like being at camp ’cause you got everybody together,’ and we had a couple of epic parties,” Harrelson recalled of the experience.
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Despite enjoying the experience, the actor revealed that he initially had his doubts about the project.
Harrelson confessed, “I turned [the Han Solo movie] down twice, too, and the same person, [executive] Alli [Shearmur], wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
The recent change in the film’s directors might have made some fans nervous, but Harrelson assures everyone that the film is in great shape.
The actor noted, “Alli gave me the word on [Ron Howard replacing the directors]. He’s a wonderful guy. And we did shoot one day with him โ we had to shoot because Thandie had to leave. We start again July 12. I think I read some stuff where people were worried about the fate of this movie. I wouldn’t worry. The Force is still very much with it.”
The untitled Han Solo film is slated to hit theaters May 25, 2018.
The Han Solo movie is being produced by Lucasfilm from a screenplay by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan and will be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the second standalone Star Wars movie following Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016.
Set prior to the events of Han Solo’s first appearance in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Joonas Suotamo. The film is said to show how Han Solo and Chewbacca, first met Lando Calrissian, played by Glover.
Filming on the Han Solo movie began in January 2017 with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing. Principal photography began at Pinewood Studios in February. Lord and Miller left the Han Solo movie in June, having reportedly been fired over creative differences. Ron Howard will come on as the director to see the production to completion.