Lucasfilm and Disney announced today it will be veteran filmmaker Ron Howard who will assume the director’s chair of the untitled Han Solo spinoff film, two days after the shocking departure of Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news shortly before the official word came from Lucasfilm today.
Howard is considered to be a safe choice to complete the task, someone who will more than ably finish the movie while being a calming presence on set.
Howard has a long history circling George Lucas and Lucasfilm, appearing in Lucas’ American Graffiti and directed Willow (produced by Lucas). He is certainly a solid and commercially safe choice for the troubled prequel film, but given that Lucasfilm gambled and lost with the comedic directing procedures of Lord and Miller, safe is just what is needed now to get to the finish line.
From StarWars.com:
Lucasfilm is pleased to announce that Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard has been named director of the untitled Han Solo film.
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,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “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.
Howard has made some of the biggest hits and most critically-acclaimed movies of the modern era. Among his many films are Lucasfilm’s Willow, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind (winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director), The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon, and Rush. He also narrated and produced the beloved comedy series Arrested Development, starred in George Lucas’ American Graffiti, and remains a TV icon for his roles in The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days.
The untitled Han Solo film is set for a May 25, 2018 release and stars Alden Ehrenreich as the iconic smuggler, Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian), Woody Harrelson (Garris Shrike) and Emilia Clarke.
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