Alden Ehrenreich To Play Han Solo In Upcoming 'Star Wars' Spin-Off

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Disney has found their new Han Solo.

After reportedly testing hundreds of actors, Alden Ehrenreich has been chosen to play a young Han Solo in a new stand-alone "Star Wars" prequel about Solo's life before meeting Luke Skywalker.

The new Disney film will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller -- who previously directed the "LEGO Movie," which was nominated for an Academy Award after its 2014 release.

Ehrenreich's biggest role before this casting was a supporting part in the Coen Brothers' movie 'Hail Caesar.' He also appeared in the 2013 Woody Allen film "Blue Jasmine," and the 2013 feature "Beautiful Creatures."

The 26-year-old hails from Los Angeles, California, but graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2012.

It is rumored that Ehrenreich may make a cameo appearance in the upcoming "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" feature, set to hit theaters at the end of 2016.

The Han Solo stand-alone film is still in pre-production and is not expected to hit theaters until 2018.