It’s official: Woody Harrelson will be in the Han Solo Anthology film. News hit the web early last week that he was in talks for a major role in the film, and the official announcement came on Wednesday. This makes the new Anthology film ripe with talent. Harrelson will share the screen with other famous actors like Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones, Donald Glover of Community and Atlanta, and Alden Ehrenreich of Hail, Caesar.
While those of us who are fans of Woody’s work are excited at the news, there are still no details revealed about the actor’s role. We know Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover will star as Han Solo and Lando Calrissian respectively. There has yet to be a report on Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson’s characters.
We’re still not even sure what the movie will be about, except it is set before Han joins the rebellion. There’s no shortage of secrecy surrounding the new Star Wars movies. It’s been a few weeks since Emilia Clarke was cast and her character remains a secret, and probably will for some time. But with Woody Harrelson’s role being so fresh, I can’t help but speculate who he will portray.
The only thing we know about Woody’s character is that he may play a mentor role to the young Solo. So with that in mind, I wanted to come up with my top picks for who I’d like to see Woody Harrelson play in the new Han Solo anthology film. I want to make it clear that these are characters I think it would be fun to see the actor play, not necessarily ones I think he will play.
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Lobot
This is a long-shot probably not going to happen, but I would love to see the seasoned actor play Lando Calrissian’s cyborg companion. For those of you who don’t know who Lobot is, think back. You’ve seen him before. In The Empire Strikes Back, Lobot is the bald station operator who helps Lando double-cross the Empire, after his original double-cross of his rebel friends.
There is a backstory to this cybernetic companion. Lobot and Lando seem to go way back. Originally in the employ of the Empire as a battlefield calculator, Lobot joined forces with Lando and eventually became the scoundrel’s right-hand man.
Now, we don’t see any of this backstory in the film. To learn more about Lobot, you have to turn to the 5-part comic miniseries Lando. It’s a fun story where the pair accidentally steals the Emperor’s ship. Hilarity ensues until Lobot gets stabbed by a guard…and almost dies. Still, it’s a good read.
But since Harrelson’s role is said to be that of a mentor and not of sidekick, I doubt we will see don a cybernetic halo.
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Dengar
Dengar is another character we see in The Empire Strikes Back. He is one of the bounty hunters Vader hires to track down the Millennium Falcon. He’s the only human. You know, with the turban on his head. But Episode V isn’t the only place we’ve seen Dengar in cannon. Aside from being a pretty sweet character in Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, we also see the bounty hunter team up with a young Boba Fett in the Clone Wars cartoon.
We get to see some of his skills in a handful of Clone Wars episodes. Having Woody sport a turban and scars would add another layer to the 30-year-old movie and make it that much more fun to watch. Additionally, it would be cool to see Han Solo being a mentor by such a baddy, giving viewers a glimpse at what his life could have been like had he followed a different path.
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Dash Rendar
Dash is someone I’ve already talked a little bit about in previous posts. Dash is a Corellian smuggler turned rebel pilot. His skill in the cockpit rival Solos. Dash was a former Imperial cadet until an accident with his family turned him into a pariah and got him kicked out of the academy. Dash becomes crucial to the rebellion in a number of ways that I won’t get into now. If you’re curious, play the Shadow of the Empire games.
The character was a slightly older smuggler who operated around the same time as Solo. I don’t think Woody will get this part either, seeing as how we already have someone who is rumored to play a role in the new Solo film by the name of Cassian Andor. If Cassian does make an appearance, it’s like going to be in the role of rebel recruiter. This would plant the seed in Solo that the rebellion has merit and needs people like him. Since this would likely also be the role Dash would play, it’s unlikely.
The character Woody Harrelson is likely to play will most likely teach him to look out for number one.
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Janus Kasmir
Unless you’ve read the Kanan comics, then you probably have no idea who I am talking about. Janus Kasmir is a Kalleran male who befriends and takes Caleb Dume, also known as Kanan Jarrus. In the second installment of the series, Janus does the young Kanan a kindness by giving him shelter for the night. In the next installment, Kanan returns the favor by saving the Kalleran’s life.
Eventually, the two become partners and work together on a number of different jobs. The comic was short lived, only having 12 issues. But it shows that this alien can smuggle with the best and mentor the rest.
Personally, I like the idea of Woody Harrelson playing as an alien. I think it would be a new type of role for him, but something I think he could excel at, especially if the alien was as cocky and sure-footed as the actor has a tendency to play. I wouldn’t want him to do as Simon Pegg did and play a character like Unkar Plut; that would be overkill.
But if the actor had a new look, practical but realistic, I think he could spend more time focused on bringing the character to life than just playing himself. Also, if he played Janus Kasmir, I think it would connect the universe in a fun, new way.
A few characters Woody Harrelson could legitimately play include:
- Booster Tarrik
- Garris Shrike (bets are on this one)
- Talon Karrde
- Alexsandr Badure
I don’t know who Woody Harrelson will end up playing. I guess we will just have to wait and see. In Legends, Han spent time in the Imperial Academy, so we could see him play the role of an Imperial Officer or a fellow drop out. It’s altogether possible, and likely, that we see Harrelson play the role of some other famous Correllian since the backstory is likely to take us to Solo’s planet of origin.
Who do you think Woody Harrelson will play in the new Han Solo Anthology film or who do you want him to play? Leave your thoughts in the section below.
Jan 14 2017
4 Characters Woody Harrelson Should Play in the Han Solo Anthology
It’s official: Woody Harrelson will be in the Han Solo Anthology film. News hit the web early last week that he was in talks for a major role in the film, and the official announcement came on Wednesday. This makes the new Anthology film ripe with talent. Harrelson will share the screen with other famous actors like Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones, Donald Glover of Community and Atlanta, and Alden Ehrenreich of Hail, Caesar.
While those of us who are fans of Woody’s work are excited at the news, there are still no details revealed about the actor’s role. We know Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover will star as Han Solo and Lando Calrissian respectively. There has yet to be a report on Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson’s characters.
We’re still not even sure what the movie will be about, except it is set before Han joins the rebellion. There’s no shortage of secrecy surrounding the new Star Wars movies. It’s been a few weeks since Emilia Clarke was cast and her character remains a secret, and probably will for some time. But with Woody Harrelson’s role being so fresh, I can’t help but speculate who he will portray.
The only thing we know about Woody’s character is that he may play a mentor role to the young Solo. So with that in mind, I wanted to come up with my top picks for who I’d like to see Woody Harrelson play in the new Han Solo anthology film. I want to make it clear that these are characters I think it would be fun to see the actor play, not necessarily ones I think he will play.
Lobot
This is a long-shot probably not going to happen, but I would love to see the seasoned actor play Lando Calrissian’s cyborg companion. For those of you who don’t know who Lobot is, think back. You’ve seen him before. In The Empire Strikes Back, Lobot is the bald station operator who helps Lando double-cross the Empire, after his original double-cross of his rebel friends.
There is a backstory to this cybernetic companion. Lobot and Lando seem to go way back. Originally in the employ of the Empire as a battlefield calculator, Lobot joined forces with Lando and eventually became the scoundrel’s right-hand man.
Now, we don’t see any of this backstory in the film. To learn more about Lobot, you have to turn to the 5-part comic miniseries Lando. It’s a fun story where the pair accidentally steals the Emperor’s ship. Hilarity ensues until Lobot gets stabbed by a guard…and almost dies. Still, it’s a good read.
But since Harrelson’s role is said to be that of a mentor and not of sidekick, I doubt we will see don a cybernetic halo.
Dengar
Dengar is another character we see in The Empire Strikes Back. He is one of the bounty hunters Vader hires to track down the Millennium Falcon. He’s the only human. You know, with the turban on his head. But Episode V isn’t the only place we’ve seen Dengar in cannon. Aside from being a pretty sweet character in Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, we also see the bounty hunter team up with a young Boba Fett in the Clone Wars cartoon.
We get to see some of his skills in a handful of Clone Wars episodes. Having Woody sport a turban and scars would add another layer to the 30-year-old movie and make it that much more fun to watch. Additionally, it would be cool to see Han Solo being a mentor by such a baddy, giving viewers a glimpse at what his life could have been like had he followed a different path.
Dash Rendar
Dash is someone I’ve already talked a little bit about in previous posts. Dash is a Corellian smuggler turned rebel pilot. His skill in the cockpit rival Solos. Dash was a former Imperial cadet until an accident with his family turned him into a pariah and got him kicked out of the academy. Dash becomes crucial to the rebellion in a number of ways that I won’t get into now. If you’re curious, play the Shadow of the Empire games.
The character was a slightly older smuggler who operated around the same time as Solo. I don’t think Woody will get this part either, seeing as how we already have someone who is rumored to play a role in the new Solo film by the name of Cassian Andor. If Cassian does make an appearance, it’s like going to be in the role of rebel recruiter. This would plant the seed in Solo that the rebellion has merit and needs people like him. Since this would likely also be the role Dash would play, it’s unlikely.
The character Woody Harrelson is likely to play will most likely teach him to look out for number one.
Janus Kasmir
Unless you’ve read the Kanan comics, then you probably have no idea who I am talking about. Janus Kasmir is a Kalleran male who befriends and takes Caleb Dume, also known as Kanan Jarrus. In the second installment of the series, Janus does the young Kanan a kindness by giving him shelter for the night. In the next installment, Kanan returns the favor by saving the Kalleran’s life.
Eventually, the two become partners and work together on a number of different jobs. The comic was short lived, only having 12 issues. But it shows that this alien can smuggle with the best and mentor the rest.
Personally, I like the idea of Woody Harrelson playing as an alien. I think it would be a new type of role for him, but something I think he could excel at, especially if the alien was as cocky and sure-footed as the actor has a tendency to play. I wouldn’t want him to do as Simon Pegg did and play a character like Unkar Plut; that would be overkill.
But if the actor had a new look, practical but realistic, I think he could spend more time focused on bringing the character to life than just playing himself. Also, if he played Janus Kasmir, I think it would connect the universe in a fun, new way.
A few characters Woody Harrelson could legitimately play include:
I don’t know who Woody Harrelson will end up playing. I guess we will just have to wait and see. In Legends, Han spent time in the Imperial Academy, so we could see him play the role of an Imperial Officer or a fellow drop out. It’s altogether possible, and likely, that we see Harrelson play the role of some other famous Correllian since the backstory is likely to take us to Solo’s planet of origin.
Who do you think Woody Harrelson will play in the new Han Solo Anthology film or who do you want him to play? Leave your thoughts in the section below.
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By Thaddaeus Brodrick • Movies • • Tags: Han Solo Anthology, Possible characters, Star Wars, Woody Harrelson