From a London café to a galaxy far, far away... Phoebe Waller-Bridge is swapping the tragicomedy realism of her hit sitcom Fleabag for the space opera swagger of Star Wars, as news comes that the British actress is in talks to star in the new young Han Solo movie.
Filming began on the latest Star Wars spin-off last week, under the in-jokey working title of ‘Red Cup’ (the project still doesn’t have an official title), and Variety reports that Waller-Bridge’s role would be a “CGI-driven performance”, implying she would play some sort of strange alien creature or mechanised droid – but the report notes her part would be a “significant part of the ensemble”.
Waller-Bridge has been hailed as the next great hope of British comedy after the six-part comedy Fleabag debuted on BBC Three and Amazon to rave reviews. Adapted from her hit one-woman Edinburgh stage show, it depicted a young woman navigating relationships and family in London with filthy bittersweet humour but few positive outcomes.
Fleabag’s brand of frank sexual mores and sense of melancholy could not be more distant from the broad science-fiction adventuring of the Star Wars universe. But Waller-Bridge has proven comedic credentials, and with directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie, the Jump Street franchise) at the helm, the Han Solo movie might be hoping for wittier approach than usual in portraying the scruffy-lookin’ nerf-herder’s origins.
Alden Ehrenreich is playing Han Solo, alongside a supporting cast already confirmed to include Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke. Filming continues in London, working towards a release date of 25 May, 2018.
Alden Ehrenreich officially confirmed to play young Han Solo.