Alden Ehrenreich, the actor praised for his captivating performances, encountered a tough burden following his portrayal of the beloved Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. After being blamed for the movie’s perceived failure, the 33-year-old faced immense pressure and the weight of fan expectations.
His future career prospects now depended on impressing acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who held the key to securing his role in the highly anticipated film Oppenheimer. In the aftermath of the Star Wars defeat, Ehrenreich had to showcase his true talent to Nolan, proving that his acting skills beat those of the iconic character he had previously portrayed.
How Alden Ehrenreich’s Solo: A Star Wars Story Performed At The Box Office?
Solo: A Star Wars Story faced significant challenges at the box office. During the summer of 2017, after completing more than half of the film, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller departed due to creative differences with Lucasfilm.
The chemistry of the Han Solo character in the movie had previously received the blame and further, Ron Howard stepped in as the new director, leading to extensive reshoots.
Despite suggestions to delay the release and follow the successful holiday season tradition of Star Wars, Disney chose to stick with the original summer release date.
Unfortunately, the film fell short of expectations, grossing approximately $393 million worldwide and becoming the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars film in the franchise.
Howard also attributed the disappointing box office to an online trolling campaign.
Post- Star Wars Alden Ehrenreich’s Oppenheimer Role Depended On Impressing Christopher Nolan
After his notable involvement in the Star Wars franchise, Alden Ehrenreich found himself at a crossroads in his career. His goal was to secure a role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, Oppenheimer.
While his performance as the iconic Han Solo garnered both acclaim and scrutiny, Ehrenreich recognized the importance of impressing Nolan and dispelling any doubts arising from his Star Wars journey.
However, the artist’s ventures extend beyond Oppenheimer. He recently ventured into uncharted territory, taking on the roles of writer, director, and star in his short film, Shadow Brother Sunday.
In the interview with the media Ehrenreich, on the eve of the short film’s world premiere, shared his experience working on Oppenheimer.
Reflecting on the experience, he expressed his admiration for the film, a passion shared by the director. He said,
“I’d always planned on shooting on film, but this was where I was like, when we’re looking at the budget, I was like, I can’t show up to the Oppenheimer premiere if I shot on digital, I would be banned because there’s no one that’s more staunchly about that than him.”
The desire to present his best work at the Oppenheimer premiere pushed him to prioritize shooting on film, which served as a powerful inspiration for his future endeavors.
Thanks to Oppenheimer and even his encounter with the Cocaine Bear, 2023 has proven to be a transformative year for Ehrenreich’s career. With a diverse range of projects on the horizon, it is clear that the actor will continue to attract unique opportunities in the industry.
Source: The Wrap
