LOS ANGELES: Lucasfilm brought the biggest party in the galaxy to Hollywood on Thursday as rapt devotees gathered under the Millennium Falcon for the world premiere of the latest “Star Wars” spin-off.
“Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which gets its US release on May 25, tells the coming-of-age tale of smuggler Han Solo before he was the galaxy’s most adored scoundrel.
The glittering array of stars in Hollywood Boulevard included cast members Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton and Paul Bettany.
“One of my favorite movies growing up was ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.’ I think this movie has a little bit of the fun of that film,” said Ehrenreich, who plays Solo, on the red carpet.
Hollywood’s A-list — “Star Wars” alumni or otherwise — turned out for the second in the “anthology” series of spin-off films that started in 2016 with “Rogue One.”
Among them were Mark Hamill, Ewan McGregor, Sofia Vergara, Alexandra Daddario, Benjamin Bratt and Johnny Knoxville.
The Disney-owned Lucasfilm delighted fans in April with a sneak peak of one of the most hotly-anticipated scenes from the movie, the first meeting between the young Solo and Glover’s Lando Calrissian.
“A very slow week, but hopefully it will speed up as soon this movie comes out,” joked Glover, whose rap alter ego Childish Gambino has racked up a record-breaking 70 million YouTube views in just four days with his latest single “This is America.”
Glover said the best thing about playing Lando was the fans, who began recognizing him as the galaxy’s sexiest gambler the very day he was announced for the part, when he went for a pizza.
The trailers have also offered a glimpse of the pivotal moment in “Star Wars” lore when Han beats Lando in a card game to win the Millennium Falcon starship, a full-size version of which was constructed for the premiere.
“Everything about this movie is getting you ready for what you already know,” said Emilia Clarke — Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” — who plays Qi’ra, Solo’s friend since childhood.
“And I think that the way that we get there is satisfying.”
The movie, which comes just five months after “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” has endured a journey to screen that has been bumpier than the Falcon completing the Kessel Run.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard was brought in last year to replace sacked directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
The pair behind the acclaimed “The LEGO Movie” and “21 Jump Street,” were dropped after clashing with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy and writer Lawrence Kasdan, according to reports.
“This is showmanship at its best and it’s what ‘Star Wars’ fans deserve, this kind of excitement. But I’m also really glad that we worked very hard to make this release date,” said Howard.
“It was a big challenge. The movie was not compromised one bit and I’m so glad because it really feels like a summer movie to me.”
Solo’s Wookiee companion Chewbacca is played by six-foot 10 inch (2.08-meter) Finnish basketballer Joonas Suotamo who took over from Peter Mayhew, starting with “The Force Awakens” (2015).
“I just approached it as another adventure happening at a different time in Chewbacca’s life,” Suotamo said.
“It was interesting to approach this time when Chewbacca doesn’t know Han, he doesn’t know all these people, he’s in a really bad spot and he’s looking for a way out.”
Experts are predicting an opening weekend domestic box office of around $137 million, some way short of the $155 million recouped by “Rogue One” and a figure dwarfed by Marvel twice already this year.
Hollywood glitters as ‘Star Wars’ stages ‘Solo’ premiere
Hollywood glitters as ‘Star Wars’ stages ‘Solo’ premiere
- “Solo: A Star Wars Story” tells the coming-of-age tale of smuggler Han Solo before he was the galaxy’s most adored scoundrel
- Oscar- filmmaker Ron Howard was brought in last year to replace directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Review: ‘Roofman’ Movie
- The film follows Jeff, a man on the run, living out of sight inside a Toys “R” Us store, and constantly improvising his survival
I went into “Roofman” with no expectations, and that turned out to be the best possible way to experience the 2025 comedy-drama based on a true story.
Gripping and unexpectedly moving, it is one of those rare character-driven stories that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Channing Tatum delivers what may well be the strongest performance of his career. Stripped of the bravado he is often known for, Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester — a former US army veteran and struggling dad who turns to a life of crime — with a raw vulnerability that feels lived-in rather than performed.
His portrayal balances charm, desperation and weariness in a way that makes the character both flawed and sympathetic. It is the kind of performance that reminds you how effective he can be when handed a script that trusts stillness as much as spectacle.
The film follows Jeff, a man on the run, living out of sight inside a Toys “R” Us store, and constantly improvising his survival. Without giving anything away, “Roofman” unfolds as a tense cat-and-mouse story, but one that resists becoming purely a thriller.
The pacing is deliberate and assured, allowing moments of humor, warmth and connection to surface naturally amid the suspense.
What “Roofman” does exceptionally well is maintain an undercurrent of unease. Even in its lighter, more playful moments, there is a persistent sense of claustrophobia and impending doom.
The script understands that tension does not always rise from action; sometimes it is born simply from the fear of being seen. “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage’s flawless portrayal of the store’s stern and authoritarian manager sharpens that anxiety.
Kirsten Dunst brings a grounded, affecting presence to the story, offering moments of tenderness and emotional clarity that deepen its human core. Her character anchors Jeff’s world with something real to reach for.
Despite its thrills, “Roofman” is ultimately a reflective film that asks, without judgment, how people arrive at the decisions that shape their lives, and why some feel trapped into making the wrong ones.
Underrated and surprisingly heartfelt, “Roofman” is a reminder that some of the most compelling stories are about the resilience of hope even when the odds are stacked against you.
