Via io9.com:

More than almost anything in the world, we want the 2018 Han Solo movie to be great. On paper, it’s a terrifying idea to solidify a backstory for such an iconic character, but at least one person assures us the script is amazing (although he probably has to say so).

That person is Iain McCaig, a talented concept artist who has worked on and designed many iconic films and characters since the 1990s, which include Star Wars Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 7. McCaig recently appeared at a conference in New Zealand and talked about a bunch of cool, behind-the-scenes Star Wars stuff. The most interesting bit is his reaction to Lawrence Kasdan’s early draft of the Han Solo movie, which he read before The Force Awakens was released.

Star Wars News Net paraphrases McCaig’s statement at the conference as follows:

[The Han Solo script is ] by far the best Star Wars script, and one of the best scripts period, that I have ever read. I laughed, I cried, I did all the things you should do when reading a good script. You’re in for a treat.
A few notes, obviously. First, this is a paraphrase, not an exact quote. Second, this is based on a script that was likely done before Kasdan’s son Jon came on board, as well as directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller. So it probably has gotten better since then. And third, what else is McCaig going to say? That it was bad?

To be fair, there is plenty of evidence back up this statement. The fact Han Solo is the second Star Wars Story film, for one. That slot was originally supposed to go to the movie Josh Trank was going to make (rumored to be Boba Fett) but when he left, this movie moved up at least three years. The implication there is things were coming together well. There’s also the mass interest in the film from every actor in Hollywood. And while it would be easy to say “Who wouldn’t want to play Han Solo in a Star Wars movie?” the answer is “A lot of people” if the script wasn’t good.

So, I’m going to put on my optimist hat and start lining up at the 2019 Oscar ceremony where the currently untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story is sure to take home Best Picture. Or, I’ll settle for an entertaining, emotional film that does the character justice.

The film is currently scheduled for release in May 2018.