Thandie Newton Joins “Han Solo” Movie, Adds Diversity to “Star Wars” Spinoff

Hot off the first season of HBO’s Westworld, Thandie Newton is nearing a deal to join the HAN SOLO standalone movie that Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing for Disney and Lucasfilm, the Tracking Board has confirmed.

When I first started tracking the Han Solo movie, I was told there were roles for at least one if not two actresses of color. Then Emilia Clarke beat out Tessa Thompson and Zoe Kravitz, among many others, for the female lead, and I was a little confused. Earlier this week, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) was cast as an unknown CGI character — who I’m told will be the first significantly- featured (sorry TC-14!) female droid in Star Wars history — and again, more confusion. Those two, plus Daisy Ridley in The Force Awakens and Felicity Jones in Rogue One? That’s a lot of British brunettes!

Thankfully, that initial confusion is being cleared up with Newton’s casting. I’m not sure what character she’ll be playing, but it’s unlikely she’ll be Han Solo’s wife given the age difference between the actress and Alden Ehrenreich.

Newton joins an ensemble that includes Donald Glover and Woody Harrelson, in addition to Ehrenreich, Clarke and Waller-Bridge.

Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur are producing Han Solo, which like Rogue One, takes place before the original Star Wars. The prequel/spinoff will hit theaters on May 25, 2018.

Newton earned a Golden Globe nomination and two SAG Award nominations for her turn in Westworld. She has balanced blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible II with Best Picture fare like Crash. The actress is represented by WME, Untitled Entertainment and Independent Talent Group.

Variety broke the news.

 Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief