The text message that got Paul Bettany a role in Solo

May 20, 2018

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Paul Bettany was a late addition to the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story, replacing Michael K. Williams who couldn’t commit to the extended shoot following the director change. He has apparently always wanted to be in a Star Wars movie and during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Bettany opened up on the text that he sent Ron Howard in an attempt to get cast – it was as follows:

Have you ever spent long winter evenings wondering why you’re not in the Star Wars franchise? I have.

Check out the video above.

Paul Bettany talks to Jimmy about the unconventional way he got his role in Solo: A Star Wars Story and the time his son almost got him arrested in France thanks to a poorly timed Star Wars joke at customs.

SourceThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Brian Cameron

A Star Wars comic and novel collector - Brian has an eclectic collection of Star Wars literature from around the world all crammed into his library in the Highlands of Scotland. He has written for a number of Star Wars websites over the past twenty-five years, is the webmaster of Fantha Tracks, editor of Fantha Tracks TV and co-host of Good Morning Tatooine / Good Morning Coruscant every Sunday at 9.00pm GMT.

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Event Details

The Mandalorian and Grogu, announced as The Mandalorian & Grogu, is a Star Wars movie that started production in 2024. Directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni, it takes place between the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Episode VII: The Force Awakens, focuses on the adventures of Din Djarin and Din Grogu, and will be a spinoff to the TV series Star Wars: The Mandalorian. The film was announced on January 9 that year on StarWars.com with a conceptual sketch by veteran illustrator Ryan Church, along with an announcement of a second season of the television series Star Wars: Ahsoka. A fourth season of The Mandalorian is also still in development.

On May 7, 2019, Disney revealed their future movie release schedule, including a set of three untitled new Star Wars films, one of which had a scheduled release date of December 20, 2024. The Star Wars Show also reported on the news on May 15. On July 23, 2020, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was delayed to December 19, 2025. After the start of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, Disney shifted their theatrical film release slate, with the film being pushed to its current release date of May 22, 2026. A film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy occupied this release slot until The Mandalorian & Grogu was announced.

Star Wars Insider 224 revealed the initial film logo was the same as the one for The Mandalorian Season Three. In August 2024, during D23 2024, it was revealed that the film had entered production, and a new logo was revealed, in addition to a teaser that was shown to the audience. In August 2024, Sigourney Weaver revealed that she had joined the cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Alongside the release of the movie, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will be updated to include a new mission featuring Djarin, Grogu, Tatooine, Endor and Cloud City, which takes place off camera from the film.

Time

May 22, 2026 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM(GMT+01:00)

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