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Who will play young Han Solo? Meet the names in the frame for Star Wars spin-off

2,500 young actors are reported to have auditioned for the roguish Star Wars prequel. From Miles Teller to Carl from "The Walking Dead", here are some of the contenders.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
2 min read
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Could "Whiplash" star Miles Teller be the next Han Solo?

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With a price on his head and the Galactic Empire on his heels, Han Solo has always been a wanted man. And the role of a young Han Solo looks to be the most coveted part in Hollywood as thousands of young actors compete to make the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs.

Star Wars returns to cinemas for the first time in a decade this month in "The Force Awakens", featuring Harrison Ford reprising his famous role as space smuggler Han Solo. The film will kick off a series of spin-offs, one of which will tell the story of Solo as a young man. To say the part is hotly contested is an understatement.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes sources saying that more than 2,500 actors have auditioned in person or on tape -- or, as one unnamed agent puts it, the filmmakers are "seeing everyone".

Who will be young Han Solo? (pictures)

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Well-known names reported to be in the frame include "Fantastic Four" and "Whiplash" star Miles Teller and "Kick-Ass" star Aaron Taylor-Johnson. TV actors said to have an eye on the part include "Mr Robot" star Rami Malek and Carl from "The Walking Dead", also known as Chandler Riggs.

Click through our photo gallery to meet some of the names in the frame to play the galaxy's most famous stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.

The spin-off Han Solo film will be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the men behind "The Lego Movie" and "21 Jump Street". It's due to shoot in January 2017 and will hit cinemas in May 2018. The next question is, who's going to play young Lando?

What do you think of these potential new Star Wars stars? Are they young Han or young Han't? Han Solo or Han Nono? Tell us who's your favourite in the comments.