News that Disney was moving forward with a standalone “Star Wars” film about a young Han Solo sent fans speculating on Tuesday, over which crop of actors might be in contention to play the famous character originated by Harrison Ford.
Turns out there’s already a younger version of Ford on the market in Anthony Ingruber — who played an earlier Ford in Blake Lively’s 2015 decade-spanning drama “Age of Adaline.”
Ingruber was so convincing as Ford that many wondered if CGI was used to age the latter backwards — all the better, then, that he’s had a Han Solo impression live on YouTube for seven years.
“I’ve outrun Imperial star ships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I’m talking about the big Corellian ships now,” Ingruber says in a 2008 upload reciting dialogue from Ford in George Lucas‘ seminal 1977 film. Ingruber also shows off uncanny facial techniques that conjure Ford instantly.
Whoever producers consider for the part, the lucky guy will be under the direction of “The Lego Movie” duo Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Longtime Lucasfilm executive Kathleen Kennedy will produce the film, which is slated for a May 25, 2018 release.
Disney and Lucasfilm plan to release at least one new “Star Wars” film a year, kicking off with Episode VII, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” on Dec. 18, 2015. Episode VIII, written and to be directed by Rian Johnson, will follow on May 26, 2017.
The first standalone film, “Star Wars: Rogue One,” starring Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn, will be released on Dec. 16, 2016.