Earlier today we got our very first details for Solo: A Star Wars Story. The film will follow the early days of the roguish smuggler before he helped the Rebels in their cause to overthrow the Empire.

In what is being described as a “western crossed with a film noir, freighted with offbeat humor and set in the criminal underbelly of a galaxy being torn apart,” we are learning a little more about Han Solo, his motivations, and what kind of character he will become before we meet up with him at the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars: A New Hope. Check out all the new details plus a few new images below.

Set years before the events of A New Hope, Solo: A Star Wars Story focuses on Han’s rise in the smuggling underworld. In the previous report, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said that the title character “might be a little more immature” and “a little less experienced,” but he would perfect his craft by spending time with the lowest of the low.

In this report from EW, we learn that he didn’t have faith in something as mystical as the Force partly because of his upbringing and career choices.

But before we can learn about Han, we have to see how he fits into the crew. A crew that Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) is assembling. And one of those new crew members is everyone’s favorite Wookiee, who you should let win, Chewbacca.

Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan told EW:

The writer adds that while Wookiees have many great qualities, they could be great for opening doors.

But despite having no faith in something as unexplainable as the Force, Han does have dreams and aspirations. So he isn’t quite as cynical as he was when we were first introduced to him.

Here’s what Alden Ehrenreich, who plays the younger Han Solo, told the magazine:

The previous report also skimmed how loyalties would be tested in the upcoming spinoff. And Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian) addresses a little bit of that without giving too much away: “We are getting a taste of that. How good is Lando? How good is Han?”

As for the other supporting roles, Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke‘s character has a little bit of a history with Han. Although EW’s report doesn’t provide too many details about it, Clarke says:

Another key character in the spinoff will be Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett. Beckett is a mentor and father figure to Han. As described by director Ron Howard:

Finally, there’s L3-37, a droid played via motion-capture by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. While most of the droids in past Star Wars films were more rigid, L3-37 will have an “idiosyncratic personality,” and be more human than her counterparts.

But before Han can join this crew, he will have to prove himself by pulling off a daring heist on the “Conveyex,” the roller coaster train-like transportation. It’s still not clear what he will have to steal but, judging by the looks of the trailer, it is going to be very dangerous.

And it wouldn’t be a Star Wars film without any new troopers added to the mix. Where Rogue One introduced the very intimidating Deathtroopers and The Last Jedi gave us Execution Troopers, Solo will have Mud Troopers. They are based on the swamp planet Mimban, which also happens to be the setting of the 1978 novel Splinter of the Mind, a Star Wars novel that takes place two years after the original film, with Luke and Leia being stranded on the planet while Darth Vader searched by Kyber Crystals.

Finally, there’s a little bit on the Millennium Falcon.

As some of you may have noticed, there is a few key differences that were added onto the ship that would eventually be taken off for the main Star Wars saga. the giant piece that was missing at the head of the ship appears to be filled. In addition, the ship looks a lot cleaner than it did in films following A New Hope. So what’s with the change?

While Howard was playing coy, he did offer this answer:

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on May 25, 2018.

Images

[Source: EW]