Just moments after Disney announced that Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg would reunite for Indiana Jones 5, comes word that the studio has narrowed down their shortlist for actors to play the lead role in the young Han Solo film to five.

Last year it was revealed that around 2,500 actors had auditioned for the role, indicating that Disney was open to any idea. That list shrunk, with eight A-listers vying for the role. Now that list has gotten even smaller. According to various reports, there are five actors now in contention for the role. Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Eddie The Eagle), Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction), Blake Jenner (Glee), and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) are the five actors up for the role. More on the story below.

THR and Variety were the two sources for the story. The former says that there may be other names that aren’t mentioned as well. Given the level of secrecy surrounding who will be playing, it’s no surprise that the full list hasn’t been revealed or leaked.

From what has been reported, we know that this Han Solo won’t be too young and that Chewbacca will make an appearance, making the spinoff an origins story for the two.

The tests were conducted in England. Among the actors who have already tested are Miles Teller (Whiplash), Ansel Elgort (Allegiant, The Faults In Our Stars) and Emory Cohen (Brooklyn).

Reynor has one major franchise under his belt for now. Aside from his role in Transformers: Age of Extinction, he has appeared in Delivery Man and Macbeth. Egerton is best known for his work in both the action-packed Kingsman: The Secret Service and the inspiring Eddie The Eagle. The actor is set to reprise his role for Kingsman 2, and he will lend his voice as a rapping gorilla in Illumination Entertainment’s Sing. Ehrenreich gave a scene-stealing performance in Hail, Caesar! He also appeared in Blue Jasmine, Beautiful Creatures, and Stoker. Jenner and O’Connell are perhaps the lesser known names of the group, the former best known for his work in Glee and having appeared in recent episodes of Supergirl, while the latter has had roles in Unbroken, ’71, and 300: Rise Of An Empire.

Chris Miller and Phil Lord will direct. They will be using a script written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan. The film is set for a May 25, 2018, release.

[Source: THR | Variety]