Earlier this week, Deadline published an update on “Star Wars: Episode VII” casting, a story that came close to predicting the official announcement that went out hours later.

But a detail buried toward the end of the story might be the one that defines the upcoming trilogy.

Many sites picked up on the note that Harrison Ford would return for “Episode VII” with a greatly expanded role. Deadline used the word “gigantic.” It was great news for fans of the original trilogy who are eager to see their beloved heroes back in action and not playing second fiddle to a group of new kids.

The diehards who know about some of what went on behind the scenes of the original trilogy, however, might have read that note as something more ominous.

Because if Han Solo really has a gigantic role in “Star Wars: Episode VII,” it’s probably because he’s going to die.

The death of Solo has been something Harrison Ford has been after since the ’80s. While working on “Return of the Jedi,” the actor wanted his character to follow an arc similar to the final film, expect he wouldn’t make it out at the end.

The story goes that Solo would have been the one piloting the Millennium Falcon at the end of “Jedi” but the ship wouldn’t have escaped the blast of the exploding Death Star.

In theory, “Episode VII” is giving Ford a second chance at the character sendoff he always wanted. Anyway, it’s inevitable that the focus ...

Each week, DC Comics is releasing a new issue of the epic “Batman Eternal” comic, and each week we’re talking down the biggest moments. This week, Scott Snyder may not be writing, but he is showrunning the book — the fourth issue was written by John Layman — and breaks down shocking twists with Stephanie Brown, Commissioner Gordon and Gordon’s mysterious cell-mate:

MTV News: This issue we find out that even Stephanie Brown’s mom is working against her… At this point, is there anyone she can trust?

Scott Snyder: That’s part of the big conflict with her. She has to find somewhere she can go, and someone she can trust. As you saw in “Batman #28″ where we flash-forward and she’s in the clutches of the newly crowned kingpin of crime, Selina Kyle, it’s not going to be easy for her.

It’s going to be a very long road for her in ways that I think will be exciting for people. And also, the people that she meets along the way, or ends up pairing with — whether it’s young characters like Harper and Cullen, or other ones that are new ones you haven’t met before — it will hopefully be as exciting for you to read as it has been for us to write them.

MTV: Later in the issue, Batman breaks in on Carmine Falcone, who he knows has been manipulating everything in Gotham. Why doesn’t Bruce just take him down? What’s stopping him?

Snyder: The problem with that is that he ...

Stars, they’re just like us! They also tend to cry while cutting off several inches of hair. Just one little thing: We usually make the chop because we need a little change or need to get rid of damaged ends. In the case of actress Shailene Woodley, however, the choice to lop off her hair came for a role.

Woodley stars in the upcoming “The Fault In Our Stars,” an adaptation of the popular young adult novel of the same title, following teenaged cancer patient Hazel Grace and her romance with Augustus (played by Ansel Elgort), who is also recovering from cancer.

MTV News visited the set of the movie in Pittsburgh to catch up with Woodley and Elgort. While there, we had the chance to ask Woodley about her big leap into the short-haired world. Not only did she tell us about it, she did us one better and handed over the video of her getting her ponytail snipped.

“It was a super-fun moment,” Woodley said of the haircut.

In the video, Woodley certainly looks like she’s having fun — with a side of, “oh my god, what am I doing?” But mostly fun.

Check out the clip above to watch the infamous haircut and hear Woodley talk about the experience.

“The Fault In Our Stars” hits theaters June 6.

Related
‘Fault In Our Stars’: See What Shailene Woodley Had To Say On Our Set Visit

Kase Wickman

There’s something I need to tell you, right off the top, but you need to promise not to discredit everything I say because of it. Promise? OK.

I’m not a “Star Wars” fan.

I don’t dislike the movies, but I don’t really like them either. I have a passing familiarity with them (I do make my livelihood writing about movies, after all), but haven’t found much of a need to make a point of sitting down and watching them again. I have a good enough idea of what’s up — space, lightsabers, brother-sister lovin’ and some major daddy issues, as well as Ewan McGregor and Harrison Ford in tight Jedi pants — from my times watching it in various after-school care programs a decade and a half ago. (Though I do remember the teachers trying to distract us from certain parts of the movie — are there dirty parts in “Star Wars”? Maybe I should watch it again.)

Anyway, as an impartial yet informed observer, I’m here to ask exactly one question: Why are you so mad about this casting announcement, “Star Wars” fans? Everything’s going OK. Let’s talk out a few of the complaints that are floating around out there and see what we can do about looking on the bright side of things.

Hey, Ladies
Some corners of the internet have bemoaned the fact that there were only two women included in yesterday’s announcement. Here’s the thing: There were only two women at the table read. Sure, two out of 13 isn’t the ...

I’ve bet you’ve been dying to know which “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” star would win a dance competition.

So, in our latest episode of After Hours, MTV News Reporter Josh Horowitz interrogates Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and Dane Dehaan to find out the answers to all your burning questions. Who forgets their lines? Who would know all the lyrics to a Justin Bieber song? You know, all the important stuff.

While Emma admitted to not even knowing the chorus of a Bieber song, her other half confessed he was a fan.

“He’s obviously a very talented musician.”

Watch the clip below to find out what else we uncovered about the cast:

Catch “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ on the big screen May 2.

Janelle Myers

Paul Blackthorne hasn’t been having an easy season on “Arrow,” playing the part of former detective Quentin Lance. He got knocked down to beat cop, then beaten up, then arrested. And the whole time, he’s been struggling with one daughter who was addicted to alcohol, and another who was a secret superhero.

Add in the shocking twist at the end of the last episode, which found Queen family matriarch Moira killed by villain Deathstroke, and Quentin is the last adult standing. So what’s left for him to fight for?

“The sisters, they’re the ones I care about,” Blackthorne said when we talked to him by phone. ” And behind them, the city.”

Adding insult to injury, his daughter Sara (Caity Lotz) left town in the last episode without saying goodbye.

“It’s a bit of a shrug, honestly,” Blackthorne said on the abrupt departure. “Sara has always been likely to do that sort of thing, where Laurel has always been the sensible one. It’s a here we go again moment.”

So while that may not change his character too much, one thing that will is the war coming to Starling City. In the final few episodes of the season, Deathstroke is building his army, while The Arrow is building one of his own. Stuck in the middle is regular ol’ Quentin Lance.

“There are great little one-liners that the writers come up with,” Blackthorne noted, “Which is sort of Lance trying to wrap his head around, this men and women showing up in their exotic outfits. For a ...

Let’s just pretend for a minute that the “Frozen” soundtrack isn’t going to just dominate the Billboard charts until the end of time — or at least until Ed Sheeran’s X comes out.

Because, long story short: It is. After sending “The Lion King” back to the veldt last week by taking the crown for the longest run at #1 by an animated movie soundtrack, “Frozen” will easily put up a 12th win this week thanks to another 115,000 units shifted, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan.

The Future Is Now
The real action, though, took place just below Olaf and the gang, where Future and Iggy Azalea battled it out for second place. But it was ATL’s spaceman who won thanks to 53,000 in sales for Honest, which just barely squeaked by the full-length debut from Iggy, The New Classic, which moved 52,000. The other big debut in the top 10 was from Las Vegas poppers Neon Trees, Pop Psychology (19,000).

Pharrell About To Make History
Watch out Flo Rida, Pharrell Williams is about to smoke you. With 11 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, Skateboard P’s “Happy” (208,000) now has the second-longest streak at the top in the chart’s history. The only one longer was by Flo’s “Low,” which spent 13 weeks at #1 in 2007 and 2008.

With the rest of the top five unchanged from last week, the new face in the top 10 belonged to, yup, Iggy. Azalea’s “Fancy” with Charli ...

Are you having a rough day? Do your parents have you down? Is your BF/GF being a total you-know-what? Did someone just spontaneously kick you in the face?

Well, Katy Perry has your back — along with a cadre of fluffy little hamsters just munchin’ on burritos. Burritos, I say!

Miss “Dark Horse” herself hit up Twitter Humpday (April 30) to bestow upon us the following message: “When life gets overwhelming just watch tiny hamsters eating tiny burritos.”

You are as wise as you are beautiful, Katy.

Perry then posted a video that is 100% guaranteed to turn your day all the way around and back again — and then back again.

I’m not going to say much else — why gild perfection? — just feast your eyes on these cuties feasting…

Brenna Ehrlich

Brenna Ehrlich is a reporter for MTV News as well as the senior writer/editor for the O Music Awards. In the past, she served as associate editor at Mashable, penned a netiquette column for CNN and co-authored the blog and book "Stuff Hipsters Hate." She likes trying not to die in moshpits and listening to songs on repeat. Follow her on Twitter @BrennaEhrlich for news on cats and punk bands.

Not to be that vegetarian at the barbecue, but we need to have a serious talk about beef. Specifically, the one grilling (broiling?) between Paramore and Justin Bieber.

See this “Ain’t It Fun” — er, “Ain’t It Funny” — single cover with frontwoman Hayley Williams sticking out her tongue up top? The band’s Twitter handle tweeted it Tuesday afternoon, adding: “limited-edition ‘Ain’t It Fun’ singles coming soon!” Anyone else feel like they’ve seen this visual before? To quote the prophet Beyoncé: “Baby, I swear it’s déjà vu.”

Oh wait, that’s because it’s a near-exact replica of the cover of Justin’s third studio album, Believe. The grayscale! The black-on-yellow, caution tape-like font! Not to stir the pot (TOO LATE), but I’m pretty sure that Paramore’s totally trolling his Canadian excellence.

As Complex reported, many Paramore fans were quick to notice the eerie similarities between Justin Bieber’s “We Were Born for This” art and the cover of Paramore’s 2007 album, Riot.

So, was Bieber’s “We Were Born For This” cover Paramore of the same, if you will? (FLAWLESS WORDPLAY.) I can’t say for sure, but it is interesting to note that the Biebs has since removed the visual from the track’s SoundCloud page.

Guess that’s all for now. Stick around if you wanna hear me break down why factory-farmed beef is, like, super-problematic. *EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY ...