Solo [Official Info] Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo) in Solo

I've seen too many other films where the "younger" actor bears not much resemblance to the older one, yet does well anyway, to care much about that personally.

 

Richard Armitage played a dwarf in the Hobbit films and he's super tall. This is a non-issue.

I have a strong feeling that we're going to have a Heath Ledger situation with fans on this one. Lots cried foul about the casting of a "pretty boy" for the Joker, and not only was he brilliant, he also won over every single fan. Including those who loudly denounced the casting.

If you haven't seen Ehrenreich in action, watch "Hail, Caesar!" I think most of you will be convinced that he can pull it off.

And if a near-exact physical resemblance is important to you, we still don't know if they'll be using subtle prosthetics or not (nose, chin, etc).

I, for one, am excited that great actors are being cast left and right in the Anthology films. This is no exception.

And if there's any self-appointed profession amongst fans that's been least successfully adopted, it's that of armchair casting director. Fans have an absolutely terrible record on casting.

 

Harrison Ford is, and always will be, the definitive Han Solo, just as Sean Connery is and always will be the definitive James Bond. In the same way, they're the definitives, but not the only. I'm okay with that. I'm sure they'll do everything they can to make him look like Ford on screen, but if he's not a perfect match physically I don't really care. As long as he does a good job playing the role and the film itself is good, that's all I care about.

 

Oddly enough they'll explain his change in appearance by having Han get in a car accident at the end of the movie.

 

Like I do with Obi-wan

 

I personally think Lawrence Kasdan understands Han better than Lucas does. Which is why I'm so happy that he (and his son) are writing the script. This film's going to be a lot of fun, IMO. The Kasdans and the Lords know how to do pulp.

 

Robert De Niro playing young Vito in The Godfather Part II comes to mind.

 

But I'm not talking about a near-exact physical resemblance. Those are your words, not mine. I'm talking about an overall physicality that is expressed through body type and build. A shorter actor has a different physical presence than a taller one. Sure, maybe with careful camera angles, lifts in the shoes, and other cinematic tricks it won't be noticeable, but Han is always this tall lanky and physically imposing presence in the OT that contrasts very noticeably with how much shorter Luke and Leia are. I remain skeptical that a more compactly built actor will be able to pull that off. I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

I think a facial resemblance to Harrison Ford is less important than capturing that general physical presence, of which being 6'1" is a pretty important part.

 

Pretty sure we've had the technology to add a couple inches to someone on film since, oh, about 1920

After all, Tom Cruise is only 3' tall.

 

Stoneymonster, It's four inches, not two, closer to half a foot. Let's see them do it and pull it off well in long shots with other actors in the frame and in action sequences. Like I said, I'll be happy to be proven wrong. But Tom Cruise is not a convincing example, as he is 5'7" and looks it in all of his movies! Tom Cruise looks like a little guy in movies. I've never thought of him as physically imposing. Han is not a little guy.

Edit: Does anybody remember Top Gun? Anyone remember those long shots where Maverick and Goose are walking together? Physically Han is Goose, not Maverick!

 

spending the film saying "well, he looks a lot like Harrison", would be much better than saying, "This guy looks nothing like Han Solo."

They are making a big mistake here. They should have went with Anthony Ingruber. But oh well, unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it.

 

Anthony Ingruber can't act though.

 

Yes he can.

 

Eh, remember how Brendon Routh did a really good Christoper Reeve impression in the otherwise ho-hum Superman Returns? Sometimes looking and sounding like another actor doesn't make the movie better.

 

This. Anthony Ingruber is an impressionist (not a very good one either IMO) not an actor. We need an actor who can carry an entire film not just repeat famous lines from one. Ehrenreich has proven himself while Ingruber hasn't.

 

Plus I don't want a "Harrison Ford impression." That'd be boring. I want a guy who can channel the mannerisms and base personality well, but also put his own spin on the character. Also this is Han at a different stage of his life, so he wouldn't be/act exactly the same as Harrison's Han.

 

I don't want a Harrison Ford impression either, but I want to feel the same general physicality of the character.

 

I disagree. Even most of the people who don't think Ingruber can act, at least think he does a great impersonation.

 

Meh Kasdan hasn't done a decent script in 25 years while TFA was just ripping off ANH. I have a bad feeling about this movie. While I'm excited for R1 and that seems like a good fun interesting story, I get the opposite here. This seems like Disney just churning out any old rubbish, because (cynically) they know they can squeeze more money out fans who will go see this, no matter how bad it is.

 

I totally agree. Thirty year old me acted a lot different than 28 year old me.

I kid.

 

I can't wait to see him in the costume. ...With Chewie!

 

Don't they sell pillows for that in Japan?

 

Probably. Lord knows they sell pretty much everything else there.

 

I have a question for those who think it doesn't matter that the actor look like Han Solo: Would you feel the same way if it was Luke or Leia being recast?

 

His impression comes off as very cringy to me. There's none of the Han Solo charisma in it at all. It's just a very awkward performance.