Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Influences Include Big Lebowski and Heat

It might sound unlikely, but Solo: A Star Wars Story was influenced by cult classic films The Big Lebowski and Heat.

Sitting down to speak with Entertainment Weekly,Solo writers Jon and Lawrence Kasdan decided to break down their key sources for Lucasfilm's highly anticipated Star Wars spinoff movie. These films which include Treasure Island, Unforgiven and Heat have been used by the father and son writing duo as a basis for young Han's (Alden Ehrenreich) relationship with his mentor, Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson). Solo will see the transition of Star Wars' favorite smuggler from being an idealist to a cynic, and for the overall feel of the spinoff, the Kasdan writers took to the Coen Brother's films for inspiration.

"[Solo] has that flavor of a crime world that has weirdness and surprise and people stumbling into things — and other people very intentionally getting into [trouble]. The Big Lebowski is a great example because Solo has a more off-kilter tone than you've ever seen in [Star Wars]."

It's a rather strange selection, but there's been a lot of praise going around for Solo's script – which isn't a surprise, given that Lawrence Kasdan is a legendary writer who's written three films in the Star Wars saga as well as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is set to premiere on May 25, 2018.

Read: Star Wars: Ron Howard Keeps Quiet About Solo Directorial Duties