Sam Claflin Tipped For Role In "Star Wars-Rogue One"

The Wrap reports that Sam Claflin ("The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides") is being eyed for a role in Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards "Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One" film.

Claflin has played supporting roles in blockbusters, but the part he is being eyed for here is said to be much more substantial. 

Riz Ahmed ("Four Lions," "Nightcrawler") is in talks to join the cast as well.

British tabloid The Sun (via io9) suggested in February that the breakout star of "Kingsman: The Secret Service," Taron Egerton might play a young Han Solo in the film.

Edgar Ramirez was one of two potential candidates for the male lead in the pic. Former Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul is the other. Paul was rumored to star in the film back in December. His role in the film was not specified. The actor used Twitter to deny the rumor at the time.

 In January we learned that Rooney Mara, Felicity Jones and Tatiana Maslany were testing for the female lead in the film--along with  Mara's sister and "House of Cards" co-star Kate Mara.
 Variety reported that Oscar-nominated and "The Theory of Everything" co-star Jones has begun official talks for the role. Ben Mendelsohn.may also star.

We now know that Gary Whitta is no longer writing the script for the film. At the time Slashfilm suggested that Simon Kinberg ("X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Sherlock Holmes," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith") would take on the job--but his schedule prevents that. Instead Heat Vision said that Chris Weitz ("About A Boy," "Cinderella") will pen the next draft.

A while back chatter suggested the film will feature a team of bounty hunters and include a young Han Solo and his wookie co-pilot Chewbacca.Then more noise came that suggested the spinoff will focus on a team of bounty hunters hired by the Rebels to steal the plans of the first Death Star, as a result viewers would see the Millennium Falcon in action during the movie.

Sources for Bad Ass Digest said that the film "is about a group of 'pirates' as opposed to 'bounty hunters,' which could easily include young Mr. Solo." So rather than focusing on a group of characters like those we saw in "The Empire Strikes Back," we'd follow a team of likable rogues akin to James Gunn's film adaptation of Marvel 's Guardians of the Galaxy"

Latino Review reports that according to their sources, both Boba Fett and Solo will be featured in this untitled spinoff. Said film will NOT revolve around stealing the plans for the first Death Star as had been previously indicated, but rather is reportedly set before that event. .

They say the story will deal with the relationships between Han, Boba and other criminals - specifically The Hutts which could "kick off a new series of Star Wars movies."

Meantime, Making Star Wars reports that the film will be shot in Mexico, and that "bounty hunters are important to the film." Crew members are also expected to redress some of the sets from J J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" for use in the spinoff which will reportedly shoot under the code name "Los Alamos."

There is speculation that said Mexico location may be used to stand in for the planet Geonosis, the planet we saw in 'Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" where the plans for the Death Star were created and where Jango Fett's body is.
 
Production on the project is expected to get underway at Pinewood Studio sometime in 2015, likely after the currently shooting James Bond film "Spectre" wraps, The spin off is currently targeting a December 16th 2016 release.