Han Solo ‘Star Wars’ spinoff movie: ‘Westworld’ star Thandie Newton in talks to join cast

By Daphne Planca / Feb 13, 2017 07:13 AM EST
(Photo : Getty Images/Chris Jackson) Thandie Newton attended the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) at Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 12 in London, England.
(Photo : Getty Images/Stuart C. Wilson) A wax figure of Star Wars character Han Solo on display seen at “Star Wars At Madame Tussauds” on May 12, 2015 in London, England.

"Westworld" star Thandie Newton is in talks to join the cast in Young Han Solo "Star Wars" spinoff movie. She may be headed to a galaxy far, far away in the mysterious "Star Wars" anthology.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, details of Newton's character in the Disney-Lucasfilm feature Han Solo "Star Wars" movie were being kept locked tight. If her casting proceeds, she would join Alden Ehrenreich as Han, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson as an as-yet-unnamed mentor, and Emilia Clarke as another mystery character. "Fleabag" star Phoebe Waller-Bridge will also play a performance-capture character.

"The Lego Movie" directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are currently hard at work on the Han Solo "Star Wars" movie, Variety reported. The script is written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan along with Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur as producers.

The "Star Wars" spinoff is set several years before we meet the galactic smuggler in that Tatooine cantina, which takes place before the original "A New Hope." The original film is similar to the recent spinoff, "Rogue One," which has amassed over a billion dollars worldwide. Reports suggest that it will be titled as either "Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo" or "Han Solo: A Star Wars Story" and the scheduled release could change to Dec. 13, 2018.

In TV, Newton is coming off her critically acclaimed performance as Maeve Millay in HBO's edgy science-fiction drama "Westworld." Her character is the renegade robot whose gutty performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and two SAG nominations for best performance and ensemble in a drama. She is expected to return for its Season 2, which begins shooting later this year.

In movies, Newton is currently filming Xavier Dolan's new drama "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan" in March. She is represented by WME, Untitled Entertainment, and Independent Talent Group.

The untitled "Han Solo" hits theaters May 25, 2018. It is in the earliest stages of filming right now.

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