Where 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' was filmed in Europe
In the recent intergalactic glut of Star Wars sequels and spin-offs, the dramatic highs haven’t just been special effects or performances by gun-slinging new actors. Epic landscapes take centre stage in The Force Awakens, Rogue One and The Last Jedi, establishing the new ambitions of Lucasfilm in the heady current climate of big box-office returns. Take Luke Skywalker’s reappearance on the crags of Ireland’s Skellig Michael, in The Force Awakens, or the black sands of Iceland’s Reynisfjara in Rogue One’s battle of Eadu, both places that have since experienced booms in visitor numbers. Now it’s the turn of Solo: A Star Wars Story to take us to cinematic, far-flung places – although all of them are much easier to reach than Alderaan or Tatooine.
Getty Images: Jandía National Park, which stands in for the desolate desert planet of SavereenThe film is a prequel about the young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich), and weaves in his first encounters with co-pilot Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, the Millennium Falcon and the nascent rebellion. Along the way Ron Howard's film introduces us to some legendary Star Wars destinations, previously talked about but never seen on screen, including Corellia and Kessel (of making 'the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs' fame). And there are new planets, too, such as Savareen, otherwise known as Jandía Natural Park on the Canary Islands’ Fuerteventura. Formed from a volcanic eruption off the Moroccan coast 20 million years ago, the island’s status as a travel destination has risen sharply over recent decades – like its stark, dramatic landscapes – with the surrounding seas diverting the hot Sahara winds, making its climate pitch-perfect for wind- and kite-surfers, as well as Solo's coaxium processors. Film-makers have been drawn here too (Ridley Scott’s Exodus and parts of Sasha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator were filmed here). The Solo scenes were shot just five kilometres from the busy tourist hub of Costa Calma, where plenty of lively cocktail bars entertain the troops. Unlike the infamous Mos Eisley Cantina, any passing droids would be very welcome here.