The upcoming “Star Wars” standalone film about young Han Solo almost had a major meeting of fans: those in love with the franchise, and those in love with Harry Styles.
The pop star, formerly of the boy band One Direction, hinted that he read for the part that wound up in the hands of “Hail, Caesar!” star Alden Ehrenreich.
Styles appeared this weekend as a guest of popular UK chat show host Graham Norton, where the men played a game called Dead Pan. It required a tight close up of Styles’ face as Norton read various tabloid headlines written about him throughout his career, and Styles’ reaction would indicate if the stories were true or false.
“You auditioned to be the new Han Solo,” Norton lobbed at Styles, who smirked and raised his eyebrows over the suggestion. Other guests on Norton’s couch took that to mean he, indeed, read for the part. Styles neither confirmed nor denied.
What TheWrap can tell you is that it’s beyond possible that Styles got in front of executives for Lucasfilm and Disney, if not directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller themselves. Styles is repped theatrically by Alex Mebed of CAA, who has a client in the “Star Wars” family — Riz Ahmed.
Styles also had enough chops to merit inclusion in Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming WWII epic “Dunkirk,” which Warner Bros. will roll out in July.
For now, Harry will stick with his day job. His self-titled debut solo album hits May 12. The untitled Han Solo film is currently in production and set for release on May 25, 2018. It costars Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson.