Ron Howard is the new director of the untitled Han Solo film. His name came up in the trades shortly after it was announced that original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were leaving the project. (Or fired, if one believes the trade reports.)
Entertainment Weekly’s Anthony Breznican has a new take on what lead to the split – and why it wasn’t apparent earlier.
Howard may not be the most exciting choice, but he is a proven director with a lot of experience – which is probably just what this extremely complicated situation needs.
The film will resume shooting on July 10.
And now, the tweets. Under the cut with you!
I'm beyond grateful to add my voice to the Star Wars Universe after being a fan since 5/25/77.
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) June 22, 2017
I hope to honor the great work already done & help deliver on the promise of a Han Solo film.
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) June 22, 2017
I think we reached peak "Ron Howard Narrates" jokes.
Ron Howard Narrating: They hadn't.
— Anthony (@anthonytaylor_) June 22, 2017
tfw u get to direct a star war pic.twitter.com/zq2VsLwVc3
— heath (@heathdwilliams) June 22, 2017
No "exciting" director was ever going to get to put their personal stamp on this project this far into the shoot anyway.
— Angie J. Han (@ajhan) June 22, 2017
Now here's the twist: Howard basically continues to deliver Lord & Miller's sense of humor. He's just better at SELLING it to the execs.
— Bobby (@bobbyrobertspdx) June 22, 2017
Also, imagine Kasdan getting as upset at Ron Howard as he did with Lord & Miller.
That power dynamic doesn't work the same does it.
— Bobby (@bobbyrobertspdx) June 22, 2017
The only question I have about Ron Howard directing the Han Solo movie is how many canon Willow references will be in the movie.
— Wookieepedia (@WookOfficial) June 22, 2017
Ron Howard and George Lucas, on the set of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, which began filming 45 years ago this month. pic.twitter.com/1Qs7U6wijv
— Tim Grierson (@TimGrierson) June 22, 2017
Who better than Ron Howard who starred in American Graffiti with a younger, pre-Han Solo Harrison Ford who was playing a character George Lucas wrote and is viewed as a prototype for Han Solo. I don’t think any other director would understand it as well as Richie Cunningham, I mean, Ron Howard. He literally worked with young Han Solo 45 years ago.