Ron Howard unveils title of Han Solo spinoff

Ron Howard offered a tidbit to Star Wars fans Tuesday by unveiling the name of the forthcoming spinoff movie centred on beloved space rogue Han Solo.

The veteran director revealed via Twitter that the team has just wrapped production on Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Howard, the actor-turned-filmmaker known for A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13and The Da Vinci Code, joined the production in June after original directing team Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired over "creative differences."

The movie, which had already been in production, stars rising young actor Alden Ehrenreich as the young Solo, the charismatic space smuggler brought to life in the original Star Warsby Harrison Ford. The cast also includes Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton.

The film is slated for release on May 25, 2018.

Solo: A Star Wars Storyfollows2016'sRogue One as the second anthology film spinning off from the original franchise. Each title isconsidered separate from the current "main trilogy," which includesThe Force Awakensand the upcoming The Last Jedi.