Solo: A Star Wars Story Cannes Film Festival]].]] "Solo: A Star Wars Story" had its world premiere on May 10, 2018 at the [[El Capitan Theatre]] in Los Angeles, and also screened on May 15, 2018 at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The film debuted in selected countries on May 23 and had its US release on May 25, 2018, the 41st anniversary of the release of the original "Star Wars" film (later renamed "A New Hope" to distinguish the film from the series), in which [[Harrison Ford]] first appeared as Han Solo. A "sneak peek" TV spot was released during [[Super Bowl LII]] on
Star Wars expanded to other media the characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Wookiee Chewbacca—assisted by the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2—to thwart the evil plans of Sith Lord Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. The film was followed by multiple sequel and prequel films. Along the production of the films were an array of derivative "Star Wars" works (set in the same continuity as the films), including books, comic books, video games, and television series, which take place at the same time as, between, and after the events of the original trilogy (1977–1983) and prequel trilogy (1999–2005). All