REVISITING THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF 'SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY'!

Solo awaits entry into the lair of crime boss Lady Proxima, in an unused shot from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Never has a Star Wars film deserved to do better box office success than Solo: A Star Wars Story when it debuted in cinemas during mid-2018. The film is great fun and Ron Howard and his cast and crew did a splendid job of crafting the young Han Solo's first rogue adventure. The amount of re-filming needed for the movie beyond what was originally shot by ultimately replaced original directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord has never been fully pinned down (sources vary between sixty and eighty per cent!), and photos of certain intriguing scenes cut or revised are unlikely to ever see the light of day post release (especially related to the late Michael Kenneth Williams leonine alien version of Dryden Vos), but we can at least sample a small amount of the originally planned material showcased through the film's media and publicity build-up and in selected tie-in books released during 2018. 

Enjoy this compendium celebrating the alternate version (and deleted scenes) of the film... 

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': CORELLIA RECRUITMENT!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': REVISITING A CANTWELL CLASSIC!

 STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': CHEWIE'S WINTER BREAK!

Alternate scene by Lord and Miller linked to Lady Proxima's crime den.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': RIDE 'EM, CHEWIE!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': GOING UP!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': THE KESSEL PLAN...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: 'SOLO': BAD HAIR DAY!

We may never see the archived footage of Michael Kenneth Williams' original baddie (replaced by Paul Bettany's Dryden Vos in re-shoots) but we can surmise that he looked like the Leonine-visaged Hylobon mercenaries, to whom he was originally part of the same race.

Other related info:

Michael K. Williams sheds light on his former Solo: A Star Wars Story role

‘Solo’: Phil Lord & Chris Miller Scenes Still in the Movie – IndieWire

Does This 'Solo' Deleted Scene Give Us a New Glimpse at Lord and Miller's Version? - TheWrap

'Star Wars' Deleted Scenes: How Cut 'Solo' Scenes Connect to 'Lego' Directors

This deleted scene from 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' shows how different the movie could have been

'SOLO': MAKING PLANS...

 

Out on the cold, snowy frontier of Vandor, its time for the likeable criminal rogue Tobias Beckett to reveal his risky but necessary heist plan against an Imperial Cargo Train, not just to his beloved and comrade Val, but also to a new recruit in the world of shady entrepreneur-dom: soon-to-be space pilot Han Solo, in a scene shot on location in Italy for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP!

On location in the Canary Islands.

To play the younger version of an established icon character as Han Solo was a challenge that young rising star Alden Ehrenreich ultimately took on with pleasing gusto, delivering a fine performance of vulnerability and cocky assuredness that the character's onscreen originator Harrison Ford would ultimately approve of by the time that Solo: A Star Wars Story was released in 2018.

'SOLO': DOWN IN THE MUD!

 

It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but just not in the way you expected, as a mud covered showdown is created between the young Han Solo and the angry Chewbacca so as to escape their confinement on Mimban, in another memorable scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': EVOLVING 'SCOUNDREL'!

Now operating across the galaxy, ready for the thrill of the chase and the lure of regular profit, the young and gifted star pilot Captain Han Solo cuts a formidable figure in this great posed publicity image of Alden Ehrenreich for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

I've said it several times before and I'll keep saying it on behalf of the other millions of likeminded fans across the globe: 'Disney, c'mon let's have another Solo movie, or at least a six-part expansive story." 

Solo writer Jonathan Kasdan feels "conflicted" about potential sequel | GamesRadar+

Alden Ehrenreich says he's noticed more love for underrated 'Solo' over the years: 'It feels like a shift'

'SOLO': CHEWIE'S WINTER BREAK!

Image: Jonathan Olley for Lucasfilm/Disney.

Even legendary Wookiees like the mighty Chewbacca (as personified by the amiable actor/sportsman Joonas Suotamo) need time for a break once in a while, as seen here during the original location filming in Italy for Solo: A Star Wars Story, during 2017. These BTS shots captured for media publicity mildly echo those of Peter Mayhew's filming as Chewbacca, enduring harsher cold and snow during Finse, Norway 1979, for The Empire Strikes Back.

Deleted scene moment of Han and Chewie having a brief snowball fight on Vandor, watched by Tobias Beckett. 

Joonas Suotamo in costume holds an umbrella to protect the Yak hair costume from the watery snow elements.

'SOLO': TO DEAL WITH A SCOUNDREL...

Still on Vandor, the eager to score success for themselves Han and Chewbacca (aka 'hairy and the boy'), with critical help from Qi'ra and Beckett, encounter the charismatic, talented, but still crooked entrepreneur Lando Calrissian, to whom a right-price deal must be struck quickly to acquire his services and fast ship for travel to Kessel. A fun scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story full of effective dialogue, humour and good character performance moments.

Behind the scenes on the partial reshooting of the sequence.

It's also a scene genuinely honouring (if transferred to a space fantasy environment) the kind of atmospheric, cold and frosty western township vibe seen in popular seventies genre films like the Warren Beatty cult classic McCabe and Mrs Miller, a primary creative example for Solo's Vandor-set tone by its original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Star Wars: Will Alden Ehrenreich return as Han Solo?

'SOLO': THE BLASTER SHOWDOWN!

He's shown his true colours and stolen the valuable coaxium haul from his former criminal paymasters, now Tobias Beckett must face off against the betrayed young, reckless and cocky space pilot he once genuinely liked and saw potential in: Han Solo, in a memorable scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story, and an image that's very old American West gunslinger in its visual creation.

'SOLO': INSIDE THE CALRISSIAN FALCON!

They say a home reflects its owner, and that's certainly true of suave smuggler Lando Calrissian's 'pleasure' vehicle that is the sleek Millennium Falcon, as seen in these great on set behind the scenes images from Solo: A Star Wars Story, at a time in the film before his beloved speedy craft is ultimately wrecked to hell by a certain young hothead named Han Solo!

Above and two great shots of the The Last Jedi's Falcon main hold interior redressed for Solo.

Learning about the bigger picture!

Chewie doesn't like to lose!

Donald Glover inspects his ship in early promo image for the film.

Ron Howard and Lucas pose near the chess board.

Howard goes through a scene with the film's talented DOP, Bradford Young.

Main corridor view from the hatch towards the hold.

Howard and Lucas pose during filming.

Ron Howard filming Beckett's race to the power room.

Ron Howard in the gorgeous Falcon cockpit!

'SOLO': THE KESSEL PLAN...

It's an audacious plan they have to steal the unrefined coaxium from the dangerous Pyke Syndicate ensconced on the legendary, brutal world of Kessel. Nonetheless, the disguised Qi'ra is ready to help the reckless Han Solo and Chewbacca in their madness, during this deleted Falcon corridor scene moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

https://www.vogue.com/article/solo-a-star-wars-story-costume-designers-interview

SOLO: BLINDED BY THE LIGHT!

In their bid to escape the gloomy heavy-industry world of Corellia and their underground existence of controlled slavery, it's now or never for Han and Qi'ra, captured and brought towards their underground 'guardian', Lady Proxima, in this great opening moment from the still under-appreciated Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': RIDE 'EM, CHEWIE!

Images by Rob Bredow from Making Solo: A Star Wars Story, published by ABRAMS.

The heist begins of the Imperial train transport on Vandor, but not as seen in the finished film of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Before the eventual Summer 2018 re-shoots, it was planned that Han and Chewbacca would ride local beasts of burden, Kod'yoks, during the original interception (shot against blue screen at Pinewood with Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suotamo), rather than be aboard Beckett's stolen Imperial craft.

The creatures would ultimately be seen in the finished film but only as background attractions.

Get the acclaimed Industrial Light and Magic Presents: Making Solo: A Star Wars Story, here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Light-Magic-Presents-Making/dp/1419737538/ref=asc_df_1419737538/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311323025759&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14184965957953670129&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044978&hvtargid=pla-525143476760&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 

'SOLO': MAKING FRIENDS!

Their unique relationship may have gotten off to an extremely rocky and violent start on the hostile world of Mimban, but soon enough the familiar bonds of diverse friendship are cemented between Han Solo and Chewbacca (soon known as 'Chewie', to Han) as they are accepted into the unusual trio of criminals led by Tobias Beckett, in a memorable and charming moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': IN THE SHADOWS OF FREEDOM!

He's played his escape hand, now Han Solo and Qi'ra are on the run from their enslavers on Corellia, making their bid for a new life offworld in the fun and memorable speeder chase scene at the beginning to Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': A MAN WITH A PLAN!

As Hollywood rumours surface indicating that some kind of series is now in the early planning stages for Han Solo and Chewbacca at Disney, let's hope that Alden Ehrenreich (seen in this early film marketing image) has an opportunity for involvement alongside the Corellian's original incarnation in Harrison Ford, having done such a prior noteworthy job in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': CORELLIA RECRUITMENT!

Hiding in plain sight within the busy Coronet City space port, a desperate Han Solo, avoiding his former slave masters and Stormtroopers, knows that the only way to escape his home world of Corellia is to become a member of the Imperial Navy, signing up for service in a different way to the filmed version, and as originally concocted by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

A different setting for the recruitment area, seen in an early teaser trailer, changed with the later reshoots.

UK comedy actor Harry Peacock as Solo's original Imperial Recruitment Officer. 

'SOLO': HIJACKED BY HIJACKERS!

And it was going so well for Tobias Beckett and his new team with the planned to perfection start of their hijacking of Coaxium furl from an Imperial Conveyex... Now the potential worry of an appearance from the deadly Enfys Nest and her Swoop Gang has become a decidedly lethal reality, in this great action shot from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': BAD HAIR DAY!

Image: Jon Kasdan/Twitter.

Going deeper into the mysterious Kessel maw/maelstrom, an electrical storm subtly hits the Falcon, giving its occupants some new hairstyles, in particular Chewie! A humorous moment that was filmed but ultimately cut from Solo: A Star Wars Story, though it made it into both Mur Lafferty's novelisation of the film and Joel Schrieber's junior novel.

Concept art for the scene.

'SOLO': THE FIGHTING OPTION!

With all the troubles and dangers they've had getting the raw coaxium out from the spice mines of Kessel, there's no way Han Solo's gonna let the valuable and neck-saving consignment get taken by those 'marauders' led by Enfys Nest, as seen in this great cowboy-esque visual moment from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': HEADING FOR TATOOINE!

New destinies of adventure and entrepreneurial comradeship await Han and Chewbacca now that they finally have the assured freedom to travel the stars in the re-claimed Millennium Falcon. And Han knows a place where some good money can be made, as Solo: A Star Wars Story concludes, leaving fans wanting more...