Alden Ehrenreich confirmed to play Han Solo in standalone film

Ehrenreich beat out about 3,000 actors who tried out for the role and was the first to audition.

Actor Alden Ehrenreich is all set to play the young Han Solo, a role made famous by Harrison Ford, for the upcoming Star Wars standalone movie.

The casting of Ehrenreich, a 26-year-old Los Angeles native who previously appeared in Blue Jasmine and Hail Caesar! , was revealed at the Star Wars Celebration Europe event, reported Variety.

He was greeted by John Boyega, 24, who made his

Star Wars debut last year as Finn in

Star Wars: The Force Awakens , which also saw Ford resuming the his old role.

Ehrenreich beat out about 3,000 actors who tried out for the role and was the first to audition.

Other contenders included Divergent star Ansel Elgort, his co-star Miles Teller, Scott Eastwood, Harry Potter star Tom Felton, Dave Franco, Colton Haynes, Mr Robot’s Rami Malek, Chandler Riggs and Gossip Girl alum Ed Westwick.

The new Han Solo standalone film is still untitled and will be directed by The LEGO Movie’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The film is set to hit theaters in 2018.