Speaking at a Star Wars Celebration event in London on July 17, where Alden appeared to officially announce the news, he revealed how he won the part.
Alden disclosed, “I screen tested with Chewbacca - I'd never acted with a Wookiee!”
John Boyega - who joined the film franchise as Finn in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens - was also there to congratulate Alden for securing the part and compared him to Harrison, 74. Boyega's message reads, “Oh man, you're playing Han Solo, man. Damn! He's smiling just like him!”
Alden's name has been in the mix for a while and rumours circulated earlier this year that he was reportedly finalising a deal with Disney and Lucasfilm to play the iconic space smuggler in the science fiction franchise.
Despite the big reveal, fans are still being kept in the dark about the story's plot but it has been confirmed that it will focus around, “an origin story about Han Solo and Chewie.” The film is thought to be titled Han Solo: A Star Wars Story and is set to be released on May 25, 2018.
