An international trailer and poster for Solo: A Star Wars Story have made their way online. Lucasfilm has arguably taken an unorthodox approach to promoting their latest film, unveiling the first footage roughly three months before it hits theaters. The project obviously went through substantial reshoots following the unprecedented director change, but any perceived delay in marketing was intentional on the studio’s part to allow The Last Jedi to have the spotlight to itself before shifting gears. But now, Solo is getting plenty of attention.

Lucasfilm kicked off the American advertising campaign with a Super Bowl television spot and teaser trailer, but it’s no secret Star Wars is a global brand. Foreign marketing is now well underway with some new materials released for Japanese audiences - a trailer (watch it above, via JoBlo) and a poster.

The preview doesn’t showcase anything we haven’t seen before, combining footage from the domestic teaser and Super Bowl commercial into a tidy package. It sets up the basic premise of the film, with Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett organizing a crew to pull of an elaborate train heist. Han, of course, is part of that team, encountering the likes of Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca (among others) along the way. Both of star Alden Ehrenreich’s standout moments (“What’s that?” and his Kessel Run boasting) are included, trying to sell viewers on the youngster’s interpretation of the scoundrel.

It’s long been confirmed Solo is basically an origin story for its titular subject, detailing key life moments such as winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando and meeting his best friend, Chewie, for the first time. Given how iconic the smuggler and the Wookiee are together, it’s no surprise the Japanese one-sheet (hat tip SuperBroMovies) focuses on the dynamic duo and their legendary ship. This admittedly is a somewhat basic design for a poster, but it’s still effective by placing the most recognizable characters up front. Though Solo will be different from its predecessors by exploring the galactic underworld, banking on the nostalgia factor for advertising is a smart play.

With the movie’s summer release date fast approaching, it’s only a matter of time before marketing truly kicks into high gear. Traditionally, Lucasfilm has released the final trailer for their new Star Wars films about two months out, meaning we could see something new in March. There, some high-profile genre films such as A Wrinkle in Time and Ready Player One open, giving Lucasfilm a platform to unveil more Solo footage.

MORE: Solo’s Place In Official Star Wars Timeline Revealed

Source: JoBlo, SuperBroMovies

  • Han Solo Release Date: 2018-05-25 Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Release Date: 2019-12-20