Michael K. Williams’ role forced out of Han Solo film amid reshoots

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Welp, I hate to disappoint those of you who were looking forward to seeing Michael K. Williams appear in the UNTITLED HAN SOLO STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY FILM, but it looks as if THE NIGHT OF actor's role has been cut from the film as the result of new director Ron Howard's reshoots.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Williams found that he had to leave the project after discovering that the new production schedule was in direct conflict with his commitment to the spy drama THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT – a new movie in which Sir Ben Kingsley and Chris Evans are also set to star.

In commenting on his departure, Williams had stated, “I felt great about what I created with the directors that I worked with,” said Williams, who was cast in the Han Solo origin story by original helming duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who left the project in June. “It is what it is."

“When Ron Howard got hired to finish out the film, there were some reshoot issues that needed to be done in regards to my character, in order for it to match the new direction which the producers wanted Ron to carry the film in,” Williams shared with Deadline. “And that would have required me on a plane a month ago to London, to Pinewood, to do reshoots. But I’m here, on location in Africa. It’s scheduling. I’m not going to be back on the market until the end of November after [his SundanceTV series] Hap and Leonard, and for them to wait that long for me, that would have pushed back the release date, which I believe is in May 2018. They wanted me now; I couldn’t go. So they had to clip-clip-clip.”

Plot and character details had been kept a secret in regard to Williams' role, though those who are close to the film say the actor was expected to play a half-human, half-animal hybrid. Williams then stressed that “we created a kick-ass character, in my opinion. I’m proud of it. I don’t think that me not being in the Star Wars family is final. I left with a very good taste in my mouth about the whole family, and I hope that I left a good taste in their mouth. They’re a great group of people, the Lucas family.”

As you've undoubtedly heard, Lord and Miller left the Han Solo project in June due to creative differences. Production was then fired back up after securing Ron Howard as the project's new director. While the film is still on-track for its May 25, 2018 release, many fans are now skeptical about the changes that Howard will make to the film.

Personally, I think Williams' response shows that he's a class act, and I wish him the best on whichever projects he becomes associated with in the future. As for Howard, let's hope that the helmer shakeup doesn't lead to any other actors or characters being dropped from the film. 

THE UNTITLED HAN SOLO STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY FILM, starring Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Donald Glover, Warwick Davis, and Alden Ehrenreich will smuggle its way into theaters on May 25, 2018.