Two weeks ago it was confirmed that Woody Harrelson would be playing a role in the UNTITLED HAN SOLO STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY FILM, as a type of mentor. With the movie gearing up to shoot soon, it was only a matter of time before we learned some more details about Woody's character. The following comes to us via an interview with Variety, in which Woody confirmed that he would be playing the role of Garris Shrike.
As fellow Star Wars Legends fans could tell you, Garris was the bounty hunter who came about a young Han Solo on the streets of Corellia. He raised and trained Han to be a part of his gang. Michal Rooker's Yondu from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is a good comparison here (as we discussed in the latest JoBlo Movie Show Podcast, of which you listen to below). While Garris did raise and train the young Solo, he wasn't exactly considered a "model" father figure. In the Legends story (which is no longer canon), Garris was shot and killed by a rival bounty hunter in an attempt to bring Solo to Jabba the Hutt.
It's unknown, at this time, how much writers Jon and Lawrence Kasdan have used the Legends backstory in their screenplay. I wouldn't be completely surprised to see if this was Han's arc throughout the first film. Lucasfilm has already taken Legends elements to use in their new canon (Thrawn in Rebels, for instance) which, I suppose, is a fine nod to fans of the older material. As long as it doesn't hinder their creativity, I'm all for it!
The UNTITLED HAN SOLO STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY FILM is scheduled to hit theaters on May 25, 2018.