The production of Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to go down as one of the most infamously troubled productions in cinema. The removal of Lord and Miller was a significant one, but one that buried the jarring news that Michael K. Williams (The Wire, Assassin's Creed) was replaced as well. Extensive re-shoots had caused the actor to cut ties with Lucasfilm, with Avengers star Paul Bettany stepping in for the characters.
Originally a hybrid alien, Williams' character was hyped as a forthcoming Star Wars icon, but has been shrouded in mystery since the change. One common misconception is the fact that Bettany is playing the same character as Williams, but in reality an entirely new character was crested. One which is human.
Paul Bettany revealed the first details of this character during a panel at Rhode Island Comic Con. When asked by a fan whether or not he could reveal the character's name the actor said, "I'm not sure. I might get sued is that answer to that one. I can't answer that. But obviously I am a very cool intergalactic gangster."
This is news to the Star Wars community. Set photos have teased someone along the lines of Guardians of the Galaxy's The Collector, but set photos make him seem very rich and powerful, and his status of a crime lord causes a lot of speculation. Did this character have previous relations with Han or Lando, as mentors? The latter is the more likely of the two due to his more bountiful endgame. The architecture and wardrobe in the set photos even look Bespin/Cloud City-esque. This contrasts from Han, who's mentor, Beckett (played by Woody Harrelson), has been said to be more grounded.
We shall find out when Solo: A Star Wars Story, hits theaters in May.