Solo is the fourth Star Wars film released since Disney took the reins of one of the most influential franchises in the world, and the second ‘standalone’ piece, that is separate from (but connected to) the main story playing out in numbered episodes.

This film explores the origins of one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe: Han Solo. Originally played by Harrison Ford in A New Hope and beyond, young Han is played by Alden Ehrenreich here in a turn that is so completely different from Ford’s, it is easy to appreciate him as a new character.

The callbacks to the original trilogy come thick and fast – but the film is at its best when it is being wholly original, taking place in a new corner of a familiar universe. The cast is a lot of fun, featuring Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke as new characters to the franchise, while Donald Glover put a new spin on Lando Calrissian. On the whole, the film is an exercise in trying something new in the Star Wars franchise. And when it takes the leap into really fresh ideas and different scenarios, it absolutely works.