Even before the recent confirmation of Alden Ehrenreich as the younger version of everyone's favorite interstellar smuggler Han Solo, there was speculation that given stand-alone Rogue One's timeline, we might see him crop up alongside Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and the rest. But Rogue director Gareth Edwards has shot it down.
Talking to Extra TV, Edwards (looking for all the world like his Lucasfilm and Disney bosses would chuck a thermal detonator his way if he spilled too much information) tackled the subject. "I can put it to bed," he told Extra TV, but wouldn't be drawn on anything else, including exactly when Rogue One finishes in relation to Episode IV. Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy, who is a little freer to talk about such things, addressed that one and also answered about the much less likely matter of Hayden Christensen showing up in the movie. "No. That is not true. I can confirm that he is not," she said, before doubly confirming that Han won't show up either.
Darth Vader has been confirmed, but there will be someone else (not David Prowse) in the suit and James Earl Jones on voice duty.
So now we know we'll have to wait until the stand-alone young Han Solo movie to first meet Ehrenreich's interpretation of the hero, unless everyone has been lying and he casually strolls through the background of a scene talking to a familiar walking carpet... Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be in UK cinemas on December 16.