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Who's in the running to play a young Han Solo?

A list of actors who may be in the running to take on the iconic role has been released. Will one of them play the famous smuggler in an upcoming movie about a young Han Solo?

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20th Century Fox/AP
'Star Wars' stars Harrison Ford (r.), Carrie Fisher (center), and Mark Hamill (l.).

What actor will take on the famous role of “Star Wars” character Han Solo?

Disney had previously announced that it would release a movie about a younger version of the smuggler and that the film will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who previously helmed the 2014 animated movie “The Lego Movie” and the “21 Jump Street” film series. 

Now some actors may have emerged as possible frontrunners for the lead role. According to Variety, some of the actors in contention include “The Fault in Our Stars” actor Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller of “Whiplash,” “Neighbors” actor Dave Franco, and Logan Lerman of the “Percy Jackson” films. 

Others reportedly still in the running are Emory Cohen of “Brooklyn,” Jack Reynor of “Macbeth,” “Glee” actor Blake Jenner, and “The Longest Ride” actor Scott Eastwood. 

Are all of these names still in the mix? An unnamed source told Entertainment Weekly that the list isn’t exactly right but that some actors are still up for the role. However, the same source says there could be more auditions.

We’ll see how the search for the "scruffy-looking nerf herder" proceeds in the coming months. 

Disney is coming off the massive success of the newest “Star Wars” film “The Force Awakens,” now the highest-grossing movie domestically of all time (not adjusted for inflation), which won over critics and fans. The next “Star Wars” movie to be released will be “Rogue One,” which centers on rebel efforts to procure the Death Star plans, taking place prior to 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." It will star Felicity Jones and Diego Luna and will come to theaters next December. 

The upcoming Han Solo movie is just the latest in a Hollywood craze for reboots and prequels, in which new talent is brought on to play older roles (see “Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke playing the role of Sarah Connor that was originated in the 1984 movie “The Terminator” and actor Tom Holland being the newest actor to take on the role of Spider-Man after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield). 

Successfully playing one of these roles could make the name of a young actor or actress. Unless reviews are overwhelmingly negative, moviegoers will no doubt be curious to see, for example, another actor taking on the iconic role of Han Solo. Playing an already-famous character does just about guarantee more audience interest. 

But there is of course immense pressure in taking on a famous role and getting a character right creatively can be a struggle.

The Han Solo movie is scheduled to be released in 2018.

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