Solo: A Star Wars Story will premiere as an official selection at this year's Cannes Film Festival, at least a week before it opens in cinemas in the US.
The Ron Howard-directed spin off will debut in the Grand Amphitheatre Lumière at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes during the festival, which runs from Tuesday May 8 to Saturday May 19.
The Cannes Festival will announce its full line up and schedule on Thursday April 12. Solo opens in the US on May 25.
Solo isn't the first Star Wars film to walk the red carpet at Cannes – in 2002 Attack of the Clones took in some rays on the Cannes' sea front, while in 2005, Revenge of the Sith dropped by the Palais des Festivals for a quick Croque Monsieur.
Solo is the second spin off from the main Star Wars saga, following 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film is written by Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan and produced by Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy.
The movie will tell the story of loveable rogue Han Solo’s early years, how he meets his loyal co-pilot Chewbacca and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian for the first time, and how the three team up, bound by a desperate mission against impossible odds that will help shape the irresistible scoundrel audiences have come to love.
Solo stars Alden Ehrenreich as the titular Han Solo, hero of four of the previous eight films in the main Star Wars canon. Ehrenreich heads up a cast which also includes Woody Harrelson as new character Beckett, Donald Glover as the returning rogue Lando Calrission and Thandie Newton as Val. Many of the main cast and crew are expected to attend the red carpet premiere in Cannes."
