In a shocking turn of events, veteran filmmaker Ron Howard will be stepping in to direct Lucasfilm’s upcoming Han Solo prequel. This announcement comes right on the heels of the recent termination of the film’s original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who were both dismissed due to artistic differences. In a statement on Entertainment Weekly, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy expressed her anticipation of working with Howard on the still-untitled project,
“At Lucasfilm, we believe the highest goal of each film is to delight, carrying forward the spirit of the saga that George Lucas began forty years ago. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Ron Howard will step in to direct the untitled Han Solo film. We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie. Filming will resume the 10th of July.”
While many fans take this as a good omen for the movie, many are still concerned over the departure of Lord and Miller. The Han Solo one-shot will likely release in theaters sometime next year, and boasts an impressive cast which includes Atlanta star Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Hail, Caesar! alum Alden Ehrenreich as a young Hans Solo. One thing is certain, fans will be watching the film’s development with great interest.
*Published 6/22/2017