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After a long search, Deadline reports that 26-year-old L.A. native Alden Ehrenreich (pronounced eye-ren-rike) has landed the part of Han Solo in the upcoming "Star Wars" anthology film starring the iconic bounty hunter.
Set for release May 25, 2018, the Han Solo film is part of five announced upcoming films set at various points in the "Star Wars" universe. "Star Wars: Rogue One," coming December 16, is the first anthology film and the Han Solo project is the next.
Read on to learn about the young actor who has already charmed the Hollywood elite.
Ehrenreich beat a handful of other well-regarded young actors for the part: Jack Reynor, Ansel Elgort, and Emory Cohen were all in the running to be young Han Solo.
Ehrenreich in "Hail, Caesar!"
Universal Pictures
He auditioned for the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the rebooted "The Amazing Spider-Man," eventually losing the part to Andrew Garfield: “Whenever I don’t get a part I wanted," he told Vulture, "I buy myself a present."
Ehrenreich was discovered by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg. The Hollywood legend saw a home video of the then 14-year-old at a Bat Mitzvah, in a short film he'd made with friends.
"It's a piece of s---," the actor told Rolling Stone. "We would go and just film whatever made us laugh. I'm this 14-year-old, skinny little kid with long hair. I break into her house, try on her clothes and make up a song. All of this is just us literally taking a camera and going like, 'Okay, ha ha, do this.'"
Ehrenreich has made an impression on a slew of influential directors, working with Woody Allen ("Blue Jasmine"), Francis Ford Coppola ("Tetro"), Sofia Coppola ("Somewhere"), and the Coen brothers ("Hail, Caesar!").
Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
His biggest role to date was in the Coen brothers' comedy "Hail, Caesar!" He starred alongside Hollywood veterans like Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, and Scarlett Johansson.
Ehrenreich with Emily Beecham in "Hail, Caesar!"
YouTube/Universal
"I've been in movies where so much of the conversation was about, 'Well, after this movie, you're gonna be the biggest movie star,'" he told Rolling Stone. "I sort of have learned that you never really can predict any of that."
Ehrenreich in "Beautiful Creatures"
YouTube/WB Pictures
Ehrenreich was interested in acting a young age, but his mother refused to let him audition for roles when he was young. He told Vulture it was "The myth of the 17-year-old former–child-actor drug addict. And she wanted me to have a normal childhood."
Ehrenreich alongside Vincent Gallo in "Tetro."
Alta Films/YouTube
Before his casting, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams was asked his advice for the actor that would land the role of Han Solo: “Watch Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’ll all be right there.”
