This New Fan-Made 'Han Solo' Short Film Is Straight-Up Amazing

With Rogue One providing Death Star-sized proof that the standalone Star Wars movie model can work, it's full speed ahead for the next anthology film, the one everyone wants to see: the untitled Han Solo prequel. With Donald Glover playing Lando Alden Ehrenreich playing Solo himself , the casting has already started building excitement, along with the claim that the movie will be a kind of futuristic Western/heist film The official movie is set to release on May 25th, 2018, but a bunch of fans have already beaten them to the punch by making their own seedy, brawling tribute to the most dashing smuggler, card-player, and heart-breaker in the galaxy (and his giant Wookiee friend). And surprise, surprise, it's legitimately awesome. Check it out:From the casting (Han Solo and the creepy Jedi-fetishist definitely look the part) to the dialogue (the right mix of cocky, witty, and dramatic) to the special effects and cinematography (damn it looks pretty!), this short film is head and shoulders above those half-assed lighstaber duels inevitably filmed in some fan's backyard forest. One of the things it does particularly well is strike the balance between sci-fi and fantasy that Star Wars is famous for: aside from the blasters, speeders, and holographic maps, Han Solo has to travel through a vast, beautiful wilderness, meet with a wizard-looking guy, and give him an ancient artifact (a lightsaber) to save his friend—it's an old-school quest.Plus, it gives an excuse to put a lightsaber in Han Solo's hands.When it comes to fan passion projects, this film is up there with some of our favorites, including Raiders! and Blade Runner 9732, the VR project that lets you walk around an amazingly detailed version of Rick Deckard's apartment from Blade Runner. To Keith Allen and the rest of the crew for "Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade"—we salute you!