Star Wars: Directors Exit Han Solo Film
Lucasfilm dropped a bombshell today on the official Star Wars website. The planned Han Solo Star Wars anthology movie is now short two directors. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are now officially off the project. According to Lucasfilm, the project will move forward with a directorial change.
Here is the statement straight from Lucasfilm and president Kathleen Kennedy:
“Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are talented filmmakers who have assembled an incredible cast and crew, but it’s become clear that we had different creative visions on this film, and we’ve decided to part ways. A new director will be announced soon.”
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller then released this joint statement as well:
“Unfortunately, our vision and process weren’t aligned with our partners on this project. We normally aren’t fans of the phrase ‘creative differences’ but for once this cliché is true. We are really proud of the amazing and world-class work of our cast and crew.”
The Han Solo movie is still scheduled as of now for a May 2018. It’s already July 2017. That means if Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Studios want to keep that release date, they will have to get a new director or directors on board soon. The news is certainly troubling. However, it’s something Star Wars has faced before after the Disney buyout. Disney previously let Josh Trank go from a planned Star Wars anthology film. It was rumored to be a Boba Fett-centric project. That being said, the creative differences line is definitely concerning.
What’s crazy is that Lord and Miller are leaving the project in the midst of active production, when it’s not even finished. Who the new director will be remains to be seen. But it should be interesting to see how Han Solo pans out and if it can keep that May 2018 release date.
Jason76
July 29, 2017 @ 8:16 am
The reason for the firing was due to the fact the directors were very liberal while the company favored a traditional approach.
Anyway, though, I have to side with the directors. For instance, they were saying more comedy was needed and it's interesting to note that comedy is what made the original Hans Solo character so appealing, to begin with. Also, the directors were more into an "in the moment" style where things aren't so planned, and I think that can be a positive thing also.