Oh, the STAR WARS rumor mill… How you entertain me with some of your more ludicrous theories and speculation, most of which can be chalked up to the fan-fiction created on forums and comment threads by people writing about what they wished they'd see. That's how we wound up with all these whispers that maybe, perhaps just maybe, Han Solo would wind up making an appearance in ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY… and that's why the timing of Alden Ehrenreich's casting came about when it did.
Yes, even STAR WAS has conspiracy theories now.
But it's gotten to the point that those at the top of the STAR WARS and Lucasfilm hierarchy have to take moments out of there day to comment on these rumblings, so that people don't get their hopes up to see something that they were never going to see and then walk away disappointed when it doesn't happen even though it was never in the cards to begin with.
That's why both Gareth Edwards and Kathleen Kennedy have now had to go out on the record to squash any buzz that Han Solo is going to be in ROGUE ONE. In no uncertain terms, Edwards and Kennedy emphatically say he is not.
Gareth Edwards: “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.”
Kathleen Kennedy: “No. I can confirm that."
Oh, and to go one step further, Kennedy also put the kibosh on any thoughts of Hayden Christensen showing up in ROGUE ONE, too. "No, that is not true. I can confirm that, he is not in it.”
Someone is bound to pick up the "They're clearly lying" flag for the time being… but I get the feeling we're not getting those actors or those characters in ROGUE ONE. Call it a hunch.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY opens on December 16.