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Two 'Star Wars' Spin-Offs to Focus on Young Han Solo & Boba Fett

by Ethan Anderton
February 6, 2013
Source: EW.com

After rumors swirled of the first standalone Star Wars film (just confirmed yesterday by Disney CEO Bob Iger) would follow Jedi Master Yoda, many fans voiced their desire for a film following Boba Fett or Han Solo instead. Well, Disney knew that and EW has learned that two separate spin-off films about each character are being plotted. The Han Solo film will be an origin story of the smart-ass smuggler while the Boba Fett film will put him at the center of an adventure, with Fett being the focal point of an entire hive of galactic scum and villainy. So what's the timeline for either of these new standalone films? Details below!

As for the Han Solo story, it would take place sometime between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars (or rather A New Hope). Therefore Harrison Ford will not be able to play the scoundrel unless he's used as a bookend, which would be a somewhat annoying, much like the extended use of Ian Holm and Elijah Wood to frame The Hobbit trilogy. That means that someone younger or around the same age as a 35-year old Harrison Ford (which is how old he was when he made Star Wars) would have to be found. We might have some suggestions if you stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Boba Fett film will happen sometime between the episodes of the original Star Wars trilogy, but it's not clear whether it will be between Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, or the middle sequel and Return of the Jedi. On this side of things, it's not really important as to who will play Boba Fett as he likely won't be seen without his helmet. Temuera Morrison's voice might have to be used though since Boba Fett is just a clone of Jango Fett, and his voice was actually used to replace the original voice of the bounty hunter in the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the original trilogy, following the release of the prequels. Of course, it's not customary to follow a lead with an obscured face for the whole film, so maybe a more prominent leading man will be picked.

But that's not all. Since the timeline of these films happens after Revenge of the Sith and before Return of the Jedi, EW hints that Darth Vader might be brought back as a villain. Though Vader's dealings with Boba Fett aren't really questionable, it's a little harder to fathom that Han Solo would encounter Darth Vader in his normal dealings. Imperial forces is one thing, but Darth Vader being a nemesis for Han Solo seems contrived. Being one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars, you can be sure Disney will figure out some way to use him.

But who will direct these films? Well, Joe Johnston has already expressed interest in a Boba Fett film, even before all this Disney and Lucasfilm action started happening. Meanwhile, Robert Rodriguez recently said he would jump at the opportunity to direct a Han Solo film. Either way, I'm sure Disney already has a list of filmmakers they want to approach for these spin-offs. As of now Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are supposed to write two standalone Star Wars films, and it sounds like these might be those very projects. But we're not sure who will direct which film. Kasdan has worked with these characters before in scripting The Empire Strikes Back, so either one would be great for him.

Any way you slice it, this is extremely exciting, and we can't wait to see how this turns out. Thoughts?

Filed under Development, Feat, Movie News, Star Wars

From around the web:

http://profiles.google.com/snears Nick Sears

Tickets. Bought.
- LosZombies
  
  Bought tickets for a movie that hasnt even been made yet. I admire your enthusiasm lmao
http://twitter.com/El_MUERkO El_MUERkO

So that's Shia LaBeouf sorted then.
- steven
  
  NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
BinaryChaos

Fangasm!!!!
Big Boss

Young Lando. The Kessel Run. Ohh, so many possibilities!
- si1ver
  
  the Prequels suck=make more prequels
John Stamos

Did I not call this or what
David Banner

Not sure I like the idea of standalone movies so soon? Why not just take a story arch from the novels and comics and make that into a trilogy? Or plan out Episode X, XI and XII? Ofc, I(and everyone else) will see whatever they serve...
http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves

I love it, a post-Episode 3+pre-Episode 4 film about Solo sounds cool, and any Boba Fett film that takes place anywhere in the series sounds great as well. I'm confident that Boba Fett will also return for the new trilogy. I REALLY hope they have Morrison reprise the voice, for consistency's sake.
- si1ver
  
  I'm down with a Boba Fett movie but I'd rather have exclusively new stories after that. Unless they have absolutely nothing to do with The Trilogy because otherwise they are just gonna taint the Trilogy (see: the Star Wars prequels).
  - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
    
    Not if they do it right. I mean, there are only so many characters from the OT they can make movies about. Outside of Yoda, Han Solo, Boba Fett, and maybe a film about Vader hunting down Jedi...which characters would warrant a good, interesting spin-off? Not Luke, or Leia...the droids MAYBE as long as they are in the midst of a much bigger story.
Xerxexx

Boner.
Adam Glass

NERD BONER!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://twitter.com/FidelReyes_ Fidel Reyes

Milking the franchise awesomely, they are!
- http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
  
  This franchise has been milked already. They are simply re-launching it as a movie franchise. Lucas let EVERY aspect of this property run wild EXCEPT the films...which is the one thing every one likes/wants the most. So yeah, I'm glad that we are going to get multiple films that interconnect and give us interesting stories about fan-favorite characters. As long as they are GOOD, who cares?
  - http://twitter.com/FidelReyes_ Fidel Reyes
    
    I don't mind it at all as long as we get some awesome movies I'm in!
    - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
      
      My bad, I mistook what you are getting it. Yeah, as long as they milk it in an awesome way, I'm up for it.
      - http://twitter.com/FidelReyes_ Fidel Reyes
        
        Don't worry it's cool it's cool, because honestly I want to see these spin off films great way to refreshen up the movie franchise and we could get a different take on the franchise, as long as it stays good (script wise and character developed wise) and it stays loyal to the star wars mythology, so yeah as long as it's awesome and we get our money's worth I'm happy they're well, milking it.
racquetman

Hey Disney, why don't you concentrate on making ONE DECENT FILM before you saturate the theaters with this franchise. Quality over quantity, please!
- http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin
  
  ‎"You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it."
  - racquetman
    
    I guess if you throw enough darts at a board, a few of them are bound to stick. Your Jurassic Park quote sums up my position pretty well.
  - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
    
    Lucas already did the whole 'packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox' thing. He turned Star Wars into a multi-media brand. We've had countless books, countless comics, countless video games...but films has always been where the limitation was. So yeah, of COURSE once a studio gets the right to make new films, they will clearly have big plans. We finally get to experience some of the coolest story idea as high quality films instead of having to resort to other mediums. I'm excited.
Dawn

Cast Bradley Cooper as Han Solo!!
- http://www.facebook.com/mikey.alterred Meici AlterRed
  
  That was my first thought! Cant think of anyone else who comes even close!
- Steven
  
  Josepth Gordon-Levitt would make a better young Solo, with Looper as credit to his skills at playing a young Willis.
  - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
    
    I agree...they can't get someone who appears the be the same age as or older than Ford did in A New Hope. This is supposed to be about a younger Han Solo.
Not Angry Lester

YES!! YES!!!
marvelfan

Josh Holloway for Solo please! His whole Sawyer-character on Lost was one big tribute to Han Solo, and with J.J. Abrams being involved in Star Wars I can definitely imagine Holloway becoming one of the frontrunners for the role. He'd nail it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=508054992 Adam Collins

I'm 35 in a few weeks. Guess I'll have to take the role, huh? Fine. I'll do it.
Anne

Personally, I think that a stand alone Jar Jar Binks would be more interesting than any attempt on Han Solo with Harrison Ford
berlingoff

Nice to see the Star Wars cow has found a permanent chute to be forced fed and milked for the next 20 years.
- Sanka
  
  Who is force feeding you? No one is making you watch it or even reading about it. Can't please the fanbois amnd nerds.
Xerxexx

Ben Foster or Michael Fassbender for Solo.
si1ver

They already did that. Its called Firefly. Boba Fett movie sounds cool.
castingcouch

I can already envision the Happy Meal integration. Who thought Star Wars could sink so low...
http://www.facebook.com/joshisyourmom Joshua McClain

Actually in the Han Solo books about his origins he does cross Darth Vader while impersonating an Imperial official, not too mention Han Solo was in the Imperial Navy at one point so he could have very easily come across Vader at any of those points.