Han Solo movie news: Emilia Clarke is film's new leading lady

It looks like the Mother of Dragons from "Game of Thrones" just nabbed a lead role in the upcoming "Star Wars" spinoff film dedicated to the slickest smuggler in the galaxy, the untitled Young Han Solo movie.

According to a report by Rotten Tomatoes, it turns out that the female lead for the upcoming Han Solo movie will be played by Emilia Clarke, the one and only Khaleesi from HBO's massively successful fantasy epic, "Game of Thrones."

Earlier this year, casting calls that included Tessa Thomspon from "Creed," Zoe Kravitz from "X-Men: First Class" and Naomi Scott from the 2017 "Power Rangers," have led many "Star Wars" fans to believe that the Han Solo prequel film would feature Sana Starros as Solo's female partner. In the "Star Wars" comics, Starros was a woman of color who Solo married as part of another smuggling run. When Kravitz, Thompson, and Scott's names were revealed to be part of the running for the film, many thought that Starros would be part of the Young Han Solo film as the smuggler's love interest.

However, instead of giving the female lead role to one of the three, it turns out that the studio has decided to give the part to Clarke instead who'll now be playing opposite Alden Ehrenreich's Solo as his romantic interest in the movie. Other actresses who have also been considered for the role of the female lead were Adria Arjona from "Person of Interest" and Jessica Henwick, one of the Sand Snakes in "Game of Thrones."

Though Clarke has nabbed the female lead role, fans still don't know who exactly the "Game of Thrones" actress will play. IGN reports that Lucasfilm has been trying to keep Clarke's character under wraps, only revealing that the character would be one that Solo and Chewbacca meet during their adventure in the Young Han Solo film.

The untitled Young Han Solo film is set for release in 2018.

News
Nicky Gumbel elected to Church of England parliament with a call to put evangelism first 
Nicky Gumbel elected to Church of England parliament with a call to put evangelism first 

The founder of the globally influential Alpha Course, the Rev Nicky Gumbel, has been elected to the Church of England’s General Synod. 

‘Strength does not always look impressive’: living with OCD as a Christian
‘Strength does not always look impressive’: living with OCD as a Christian

Thea Joshi, of the Centre for Mental Health, reflects on living with OCD as a Christian and what churches and fellow Christians can do to help those living with the condition.

Church of England receives £13m under new scheme to preserve historic churches
Church of England receives £13m under new scheme to preserve historic churches

A Church representative said he was conscious many churches had not received the funding they seek.

Petition against ban on church's street preaching delivered to Colchester City Council
Petition against ban on church's street preaching delivered to Colchester City Council

Officials first said the preaching was too loud before moving on to objections about the content.