Stars line-up to play Han Solo in Star Wars spin-off

Ansel Elgort, Kylie Minogue's boyfriend Joshua Sasse and Harry Potter's Tom Felton have auditioned for the role of Star Wars hero Han Solo in a new sci-fi spin-off.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter over 2,500 actors have put their names forward for the Solo part in 2018's Star Wars movie, which will be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller - and some of the hopefuls have quite the impressive resume.

Others in the running for the coveted role, played in four Star Wars films by Harrison Ford, include Jurassic World's Nick Robinson, Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Miles Teller, Dave Franco, Hunter Parrish, former Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick and Colton Haynes, according to the report.

Irishman Jack Reynor, who portrayed Shane Dyson in Transformers: Age of Extinction, is also on the Han Solo hit list, as is Fury star Logan Lerman.

Harrison Ford is back as Han Solo in the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in which he'll join former castmates Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, and franchise newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac.

The sci-fi blockbuster, directed by J.J. Abrams, will hit the big screen later this month (Dec15).