We’re beginning to think that Lucasfilm’s Star Wars anthologies are cursed.
For Rogue One, last summer was the real canary in the coal mine, when Tony Gilroy’s last-minute appointment signaled extensive reshoots and additional filming designed to clean up the third act – hence why so many of the spinoff’s epic trailer shots remained in the Lucasfilm vaults.
Fast forward to 2017, and it’s Solo: A Star Wars Story that’s beginning to rear its head after a long, storied spell in front of the cameras. Not unlike Lucasfilm’s decision to part ways with Colin Trevorrow on Episode IX, the Powers That Be cut ties with Phil Lord and Chris Miller when “creative differences” threatened to steer the studio’s Han Solo origin story in the direction of an improvised comedy.
It didn’t take long before Ron Howard was drafted in to replace Lord and Miller, and we’re now hearing that Howard’s extensive overhaul wound up costing twice the original budget, as the Oscar-winning director seemingly reshot close to 80 percent of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Word comes by way of The Resistance Broadcast (via Star Wars News Net), after the outlet claimed Howard reshot “nearly all” of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars spinoff. That’s in stark contrast to the original statement from the studio, which said that Solo: A Star Wars Story would retain some of Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s vision. However, assuming this new report is on point, it would seem they ostensibly decided to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
What we do know is that Solo will be anchored by Alden Ehrenreich, who’s been tasked with playing the young nerf herder in 2018. By his side are Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton of Westworld fame, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is still slated for release on May 25th, 2018, which is a small miracle in and of itself if these allegations hold true. Meanwhile, The Last Jedi will be with us this December.