Ron Howard on taking over Han Solo movie: “I’ve been a fan forever”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

The big news this week was clearly the dropping of the new PITCH PERFECT poster, but there was also the issue of the HAN SOLO movie losing its two directors (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller), with Oscar-winner Ron Howard replacing them. We’ve heard plenty of details about the split, but one person we haven’t heard from it Howard himself. Of course, that silence was never supposed to last long.

While at the Cannes Lions advertising and media conference Howard as asked about his new gig taking over the STAR WARS film, with the director citing his decades-long love with the series as one of the many reasons he’s excited to take on the project:

It’s a little opportunity that came my way. I’ve been a fan forever. It’s gratifying to be asked to lend my voice to the [Star Wars] universe. So many people involved in the STAR WARS franchise are friends. It’s already been in production, and there’s a lot of really great work there.

He also took to Twitter with a few breif statements:

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

He even recalls seeing the movie for the first time in 1977, having gone to see it with his wife Cheryl after waiting in line for two hours: “I was transported by the movie… We literally left almost speechless.” They immediately got back into line and waited another 90 minutes to see it again.

The report from Variety also says that a good three-fourths of the movie was already done when the directors departed, and how Howard has already begun work on the movie, with shooting set to pick up again on July 10, followed by five weeks of reshoots to later this year.  

The general consensus over Lucasfilm's decision to hire Howard is that, ultimatley, it was a safe call. The man has more than enough experience with actors, visual set pieces and large crews to get everything done smoothly, which right now is all that matters. Some are worried he's not the right choice (stylistically speaking) to helm the movie, but I've liked most of what he's directed in recent years (RUSH, IN THE HEART OF THE SEA and THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK), so I have faith he can do the movie justice thanks to his passion and professionalism. An exciting bit to note is that given his recent work with Chris Hemsworth a Thor/STAR WARS crossover has never been more possible. I'm only kind of joking.

HAN SOLO comes out May 2018, and THE JEDI will proceed it on December 15.