The Han Solo Movie Will Be a Chewbacca Origin Story

Who knew that we’d get some delicious Star Wars news at something called the Deutsche Bank 2016 Media, Internet & Telecom Conference? While giving a talk to the probably rapt audience in attendance, Disney chief Bob Iger dropped some news about the upcoming movies in the Star Wars universe that aren’t in the regular episodic canon.

Per The Wrap, Iger first reiterated what we already know about Rogue One, saying:

Rogue One … is about a band of rebels plotting to steal the plans to the Death Star. It takes place right before what was George Lucas’s first film, which came out in 1977 and is now called A New Hope.

First off, we’re hoping Iger means Lucas’s first film in the Star Wars universe, as the former Star Wars mastermind’s first movie was actually THX 1138. But we’re just nitpicking.

Also, this is probably the first time it’s been official that Rogue One would take place directly before A New Hope. There was some talk about how long the Rebels took to steal the Death Star plans and put their rebellious offensive with Luke Skywalker into action. Now we know.

But Iger’s further comments revealed some new, unknown details on directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s standalone Han Solo movie. He said:

We have others in the works, including one, which is an origin story about Han Solo and Chewy. And that’ll come after Star Wars 8 in 2018. And then there will possibly more thereafter.

First thing’s first: It’s obvious someone at The Wrap isn’t a Star Wars fan because it’s “Chewie,” not “Chewy.” This is basic stuff; come on, guys.

Now we’re really nitpicking.

Besides Iger also assured investors that new movies outside the main episodic plot would have to be marketed “differently, but aggressively” — meaning Disney is going to have to work overtime on selling the standalone movie idea to non-Star Wars fans — the Han Solo news is major.

People won’t have to be sad that Han and Chewie a happened in The Force Awakens. The Han Solo standalone movie will map their journey to best bud-ship and the Millennium Falcon. We’re hoping it includes a scene of how they made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.

Rumors foresaw that Chewbacca would play a role in the young Han Solo movie, but it we didn’t have confirmation until now. Peter Mayhew, the actor who has played Chewbacca since the 1977 original, announced on Twitter that he was going to eventually make a big announcement. We initially thought he was going to retire, but now it’s possible that he was referring to Chewie’s return.

Disney is still in the casting the movie, and has met basically any eligible actor on the face of the earth to potentially play Han Solo. The film is slated for release on May 25, 2018.