Big Star Wars news on the heels of Comic-Con: Solo is going solo. Lucasfilm has tapped The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller to direct a Star Wars Anthology film featuring a young Han Solo, set for release on May 25, 2018.
According to Lucasfilm:
“The story focuses on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.”
Lord and Miller had this to say in the announcement:
“This is the first film we’ve worked on that seems like a good idea to begin with. We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us. This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you’re late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you’ve loved since before you can remember having dreams at all.”
The filmmaking duo are the hottest of Hollywood commodities right now. At Sony they are currently attached to write and produce an animated Spider-Man film in addition to ties with the next installment in the 21 Jumpstreet series. They also have their hands full over at Warner Bros well with developing the big screen solo adventure for DC Comics’ The Flash and their involvement with The LEGO Movie Sequel.
Additionally, Lawrence Kasdan and his son Joe Kasdan have written the screenplay about the early years of the Corellian smuggler turned Rebel Alliance General and galactic hero. The elder Kasdan is far from a stranger to Star Wars mythology, has co-written the screenplays for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and the upcoming The Force Awakens (let’s not leave out Raiders of the Lost Ark while we’re name dropping).
From the Kasdans:
“We’re so excited to be working with Chris and Phil, who will bring a fresh new dimension to the Star Wars universe. They’re two of the smartest, funniest and most original filmmakers around, and the ideal choice to tell the story of Han Solo, one of the coolest characters in the galaxy.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film is not the same project recently left without a director after Josh Trank vacated the position. That adventure, rumored to chronicle the exploits of Boba Fett, is still on its separate track in development.
Interesting this news came out mere days before Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated Hall H panel at Comic-Con on Friday, but now it gives us something extra to look forward to with possible additional information on deck.
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