'Star Wars' spaceship lands at Disney's 'Solo' premiere in Hollywood
Director of the movie Ron Howard (2nd L) poses with cast members (L-R) Clint Howard, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton, Alden Ehrenreich, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Paul Bettany, Donald Glover and Jon Favreau at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A giant replica of the Millennium Falcon towered over Hollywood Boulevard and Chewbacca walked the red carpet at Thursday's world premiere of "Solo: A Star Wars Story," a movie about the early years of the space saga's famous smuggler.
Producer Walt Disney Co shut down an entire block and filled two historic theaters to debut the film for industry guests, fans and VIPs including "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos.
The character of Chewbacca poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
The movie begins rolling out in international theaters on May 23.
Alden Ehrenreich, 28, stepped into the role of Han Solo made famous by Harrison Ford in the original "Star Wars" trilogy that began in 1977. Ehrenreich plays a younger Solo just beginning his pilot training and seeking his own spaceship when he becomes involved in a dangerous mission in the galaxy far, far away.
Disney is hoping audiences embrace the movie after reshoots midway through production. Ron Howard finished the film after original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired.
Filmmaker George Lucas attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNew
"This was a very unusual circumstance, and I decided to take it on frankly as a kind of a challenge," Howard said on the red carpet. "I'm so glad that I jumped in."
Stars including Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover and Woody Harrelson posed on the carpet alongside the furry wookiee Chewbacca and a handful of Stormtroopers.
Box office experts predict fans will turn out in force for "Solo." The movie could bring in as much as $185 million over Memorial Day weekend, which would be a record for that holiday period, according to BoxOffice.com.
A fan takes a selfie with a Stormtrooper at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Fans around the world have debated how Ehrenreich, little known beyond a well-received performance in quirky 2016 comedy "Hail, Caesar," will take on one of the most iconic roles in cinema.
At Thursday's premiere, audience members cheered at key moments such as when Han meets his eventual co-pilot Chewbacca, takes control of the Falcon for the first time, and comes face-to-face with fellow smuggler Lando Calrissian, portrayed by Glover.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in five "Star Wars" films, also attended the premiere, as did Billy Dee Williams, who portrayed Calrissian in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."
An overview of the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
In "Solo," the younger Lando "doesn't know what he's quite doing yet," Glover said. "I think he understands how to survive and make that look good. He knows how to make surviving look sexy."
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Omar Younis; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Mark Hamill attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewThe character of Chewbacca poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniDavid Alan Grier attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewActor Billy Dee Williams poses with fans at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Emilia Clarke poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast members Alden Ehrenreich and Emilia Clarke pose at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniManish Dayal attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewCast member Paul Bettany attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Joonas Suotamo signs autographs at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniDirector of the movie Ron Howard (R), cast member Alden Ehrenreich (L) and George Lucas pose at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Alden Ehrenreich poses with fans at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniDirector of the movie Ron Howard poses with cast member Emilia Clarke at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Emilia Clarke poses with fans at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Donald Glover poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniCast member Thandie Newton poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniRu Paul attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewCast member Donald Glover poses at the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniChris Hardwick and Lydia Hearst attend the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewJon Favreau attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewBilly Dee Williams attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewJaime King attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewActress Yvette Nicole Brown attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNewAlexandra Daddario attends the premiere for the movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/David McNew
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