Alden Ehrenreich is now the favourite to portray the young Han Solo in the forthcoming Star Wars spin-off, according to new reports after Disney carried out screen tests on their favoured candidates.

The 26 year old American actor, who recently appeared in the Coen brothers’ comedy Hail, Caesar!, was named last month as one of three main contenders to portray the character popularised by Harrison Ford since the original Star Wars movies, alongside Taron Egerton and Jack Reynor.

Alden EhrenreichAlden Ehrenreich is rumoured to be the outright favourite to play the young Han Solo in new 'Star Wars' spin-off

However, Deadline now reports that Ehrenreich is now the out-and-out favourite to land the role in the as-yet-untitled spin-off movie, which will be centred on Han Solo, his back-story and how he came to be allied with Chewbacca.

Disney has declined to officially comment on casting matters as yet – all that is known about the spin-off is that it will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who helmed The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is producing.

More: Alden, Jack and Taron! Meet the three contenders on Disney’s shortlist to play the young Han Solo

Quoting an unnamed source, Deadline reported: “Sources with knowledge of the casting process, said that Ehrenreich is now leading the pack after an impressive performance.”

The spin-off, another movie to add to the Star Wars universe, has been shrouded in secrecy ever since it was announced late last year, but it is slated for a May 2018 release. The Gareth Edwards-directed spin-off Star Wars: Rogue One, starring Felicity Jones, is another such counterpart movie to the Star Wars narrative, and is released on December 16th this year.

Ehrenreich isn’t particularly a household name, but he has starred in a number of minor roles in critically well-received movies such as Blue Jasmine and Tetro. He’s also been cast in Warren Beatty’s untitled Howard Hughes movie.

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