Just a few weeks before Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters, and star Alden Ehrenreich, who plays Han Solo, let slip that he’s signed on for three movies.
In an interview with Esquire, Ehrenreich noted he’s signed on for “three” films. He added, “I don’t know if that’s officially, uh, public. But—yeah.”
However, as Star Wars fans know, signing on for a number of films doesn’t actually equate to those films being made. Rogue One star Felicity Jones, who played Jyn Erso, also signed a three movie contract. Now, it’s possible Lucasfilm might actually have more Jyn Erso-focused films in development following Rogue One, but at this point it looks like it’s one and done given the definitive ending for the character on the planet Scarif.
So, it’s quite possible this is just part of the business for these actors playing lead roles in Star Wars films.
But unlike, Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso, we know that Han Solo will survive Solo: A Star Wars Story. His story will continue in the Star Wars universe until he meets his end at the hands of his own son, Kylo Ren, in The Force Awakens. There’s plenty of stories to tell about Han Solo in the period between Solo: A Star Wars Story and when he makes his first appearance in A New Hope. He could even show up as a supporting character in a possible Boba Fett-centric film.
Director Ron Howard seemed to damper the possibility of a Solo trilogy when he spoke to Fandango:
“I think the fans are going to define all of that. I mean I think that Lucasfilm and Disney in casting actors, and particularly younger actors, want to see what happens and build upon that. Certainly, they want the commitment from the young actors, but there are no concrete plans. I think there’s been a lot of creative energy and now marketing energy going behind this movie.
I think these are exactly what they’re meant to be, or what they’re designed to be. They’re single movies exploring the galaxy; but of course, as a company, I think they’re going to be very interested to see how people respond to it and take it from there. This whole thing is kind of a cool, ambitious exploration of what the galaxy and the Star Wars sensibility can continue to mean to fans.”
Would you want to see a Han Solo trilogy? Or would you rather have Ehrenreich’s Han Solo appear two more stand alone Star Wars films?