Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
An early report on Solo gave us the impression that George Lucas actually helped direct a small part of the film, now the fuller part of the story can be told. Here’s the scene – of which we’ve seen a brief preview of in commercials – and George Lucas’s part in it, from Variety’s cover story.
Continue reading “How George Lucas helped out on a Solo scene”
A new article on Solo from the Wall Street Journal mostly treads well-worn ground on the film’s behind-the-scenes director switcharoo, but it does have one new, interesting (if unconfirmed) detail: That Ron Howard reshot 70% of the film.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller say they’ll be credited as executive producers on Solo. Ron Howard took over as the standalone’s director after they exited the project back in June.
No coverage of Solo: A Star Wars Story would be complete without asking on the film’s turmoulous director issues, and Entertainment Weekly does go there, with the usual vague and polite responses from Kathleen Kennedy and Ron Howard on the issue of original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
But the story begins and ends with George Lucas and Ron Howard, from American Graffiti to the set of Solo where – on Howard’s very first day – Lucas came to visit.
Continue reading “George Lucas helped direct a small part of Solo”
Another report on Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Han Solo exit has come out this morning from The Hollywood Reporter. It details an even more strained situation than the previous articles, with editor replacements, a late hiring of an acting coach, and overall strain on set.
The Entertainment Weekly story from last week has also been updated today with some new information.
I have rolled my eyes at a lot of the so-called “panic” over the Han Solo film, mainly because most of it didn’t actually seem to be about Han Solo. But directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller leaving due to “creative differences” before the film is even done shooting is concerning, because: Just now?
“It’s become clear that we had different creative visions on this film, and we’ve decided to part ways,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. “A new director will be announced soon.” It’s apparently keeping the May 2018 release date, at least for the time being.
This is all very unusual, and I haven’t the slightest idea what to think. (Word is there’s still three more weeks of shooting.) The rumors and thinkpieces will be flying over the next few days. Be cautious! But for the moment, we’re all just going with “what?”
Update #1: Variety is reporting that the two clashed with Kennedy – who fired them – and co-writer/executive producer Lawrence Kasdan. The Hollywood Reporter has more details.
Update #2: Deadline says Ron Howard is a top choice to finish off the film. Kasdan himself is also reportedly a contender.
May the 4th is rarely a big day for anything but goofiness, and we did get that in spades. Below, Kristen Bell (guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live) surprised Adam Scott with Mark Hamill.
→ In addition to giving a few quotes to Entertainment Weekly, The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson did share a quick video with another Star Wars luminary:
A #MayThe4thBeWithYou message from @RianJohnson for #StarWarsDay. pic.twitter.com/JlnWRZyn4g
— Star Wars (@starwars) May 4, 2017
→ Meanwhile, Han Solo director Philip Lord teases something he can’t talk about just yet.
→ Marvel’s Doctor Aphra won the latest Hasbro fan figure poll. Expect a 3.75-inch action figure, the character’s first, sometime next year.
→ Also: Laura Dern still isn’t saying much, Star Wars character popularity by state, Padme’s outfits ranked, and a Force playlist.
→ And no, we didn’t get a new Vanity Fair spread, as many of us were assuming. But do expect one later this month. Let’s just not pin it on any specific dates this time.
There was nothing about any of the upcoming spin-off films at Celebration, but we did get this “behind the scenes” look at the Han Solo film with Warwick Davis and directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, who revealed a new alien.
Meanwhile, Kathleen Kennedy clarified the faux-issue about Han’s name for MTV’s Josh Horowitz. “It’s obviously his name,” she said. “It will always be his name.” She also hopes to announce the third spinoff film “this summer.”
And finally, here’s a rumor that a prequel-era character may appear in the Han film. (I am side-eyeing this one a bit, but stranger things have happened.)
StarWars.com has annouced that principal photography has begin on the Han Solo standalone, along with confirming rumored cast members Thandie Newton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It’s also the first time they’ve mentioned the release date in quite a while – and surprisingly, it’s still May 25, 2018.
If it does indeed remain May, this would be our first non-December release since Disney bought the franchise, and could signal a permanent move back to spring for Episode IX and beyond. The May release date will put Han just on the heels of Episode VII, The Last Jedi, which is out December 15, 2017.
The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca along with Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directing, from a script by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.
With a tweet from co-director Chris Miller captioned “Han shot first,” we learn that the Han Solo standalone has begun shooting. The slate says ‘Red Cup,’ the film’s shooting title. (Solo… Get it?)
The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, plus Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson in yet-unknown roles. Posts like these from directors are usually followed by a StarWars.com announcement which may reveal further info (like, perhaps, a new release date?) so we’ll keep any eye out.