Alden Ehrenreich finalizing deal to play young Han Solo

Alden Ehrenreichis on his way to landingone of young Hollywood's most coveted roles: starring as ayoung Han Solo in a standalonefilm exploring the origins of thebeloved Star Wars space smuggler.

The 26-year-old Los Angeles actor is in final negotiations to play the charming scoundrel,according to reports in industry publications Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

The smuggler-turned-hero hadso far been portrayed infourStar Warsfilms, including the recent The Force Awakens,byHarrison Ford.

Ehrenreich recently drew raves forhis scene-stealing turn in the CoenBrothers comedy Hail Caesar!, the 1950s-era Hollywood farce in whichhe played adreamyyoung cowboy actormiscast in a drawingroom drama.

Though not as well known as some of the more than 2,500other Han Solo hopefuls filmmakers met who included Miles Teller, Taron Egerton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson andAnsel Elgort the26-year-old Ehrenreichhasa significant pedigree.

Hepreviously appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's filmsTwixt and Tetro, inWoody Allen'sBlue Jasmine, in Sofia Coppola'sSomewhere and was discovered by none other than Steven Spielberg, who apparently saw Ehrenreichperformin a video at a friend's bat mitzvah. He is also signed on to star in Warren Beatty'supcoming Howard Hughes film.

The Empire Strikes Back, TheReturn of the Jedi and The Force Awakens scriptwriter Lawrence Kasdanis penning the script to the as-yet-untitled film with his son Jon Kasdan. The projectis directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie), with Lucasfilmpresident Kathleen Kennedy producing.

The standalone Solofilm is set to hit theatres May 25, 2018.