Han Solo won't be in Rogue One

Alrighty so there's a new Star Wars movie out this week and its the first theatrically released movie in the franchise which isn't part of the numbered flicks originally conceived by George Lucas.

This first spin off is a pretty big deal, and its setting up all manner of things to come, including a dedicated movie for the great Han Solo himself, as played by young Alden Ehrenreich. That's going to be lots of fun when it debuts in a couple of years but a recent rumour had suggested we might get to see the character early, with a cameo in Rogue One.

That's not true though, at least according to Rogue One director Gareth Edwards, who should probably know.

The filmmaker had this to say to Extra about the rumour: "I’m not sure if I’m allowed to do this, but I think I should… I can put to bed, Han Solo is not in the movie."

You know as much fun as its been to read about these rumours an appearance by Han Solo wouldn't really make much sense, particularly if it was the version played by Alden Ehrenreich. He's been cast as a younger take on the character, for spin off stories to take place before the timeline of A New Hope.

However, events of Rogue One happen a very short time before A New Hope, with the ending apparently leading right into Luke Skywalker's first adventure. So why would Solo be not only younger but also played by a different actor? If a Solo cameo were to appear in Rogue One, it would make a lot more sense for it to be as a CG-enhanced and smoothed out version of Harrison Ford, which would also be a nice swansong for this long running space swine.

We'll have to wait to find out if Edwards is fibbing, as Rogue One is out in December, 2016.