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Ron Howard Steps In To Direct Han Solo Movie (hollywoodreporter.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new dept.

Two days after directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were let go in the middle of shooting the Star Wars Han Solo spinoff movie, the spot has been filled. Ron Howard has been named the new direct of Lucasfilm and Disney's Han Solo movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. From the report: Howard, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter, will meet with the actors -- Alden Ehrenreich is playing the iconic smuggler, Donald Glover is playing Lando Calrissian, with Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton also on the roll call -- to soothe a rattled set and will pore over a rough edit to see what the project needs. Filming will resume on July 10. Howard, who directed 1995's Apollo 13 and won an Oscar for helming 2002's A Beautiful Mind, comes to the Han Solo film with several connections to George Lucas and the worlds of Lucasfilm. He appeared in Lucas' 1973 breakout film American Graffiti and helmed Lucas' 1988 pet fantasy project Willow. Howard also revealed on a podcast in 2015 that Lucas had approached him to direct 1999's Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace. Though his recent movies, including Inferno and In the Heart of the Sea, have been costly ventures that underperformed at the box office, Howard is considered to be a safe choice to complete the task, someone who will ably finish the movie while being a calming presence on set.

89 comments

  1. Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Keep their primitive violent culture out of the US.

    1. Re: Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Yep. Would hate to have competition with our own primitive violent culture

    2. Re: Ban Muslim Immigration by HornWumpus · · Score: -1, Troll

      Make no mistake, we're competing with them. They are losing, we've got their internal war restarted and things are progressing nicely. Oil should be irrelevant before they kick the fight out of each other.

      We just have to keep our panty wearing 'men' busy chanting at protests and white knighting lesbians and all will be well. Make antifa the face of the left and we get more Trump.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re: Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      You Canadians are too hard on yourselves.

    4. Re: Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Nope, while you play your stupid games, and continue pathetic name calling, China is shitting all over you economicaly. You are a real dumb cunt.

    5. Re: Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      China's bubble is about to burst, and there will be another global recession because of it. At which point all bets are off as to whether the USA, China, or Russia start another war to get the money flowing again.

    6. Re:Ban Muslim Immigration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Keep their primitive violent culture out of the US.

      That's because the Conservative Christians want their own version of Shria Law and are jealous of the competition.

  2. Re:Ban Wookie Immigration by Beau1080p · · Score: 0

    Keep "Hand Solo if you KNOW what I MEAN" out of the Star Wars Universe!

  3. Not bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trading up two hack directors for a real one.

  4. prey i dont alter the deal more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    /.s

  5. Movies directed by ron howard... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cotton candy, skyward, thru the magic pyramid, littleshots, genius.

    1. Re:Movies directed by ron howard... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you suppose that in this movie we could see a cameo appearance of Opie-Wan Kenobi?

    2. Re:Movies directed by ron howard... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you suppose that in this movie we could see a cameo appearance of Opie-Wan Kenobi?

      That would be preferred over Oprah Wan Kenobi...

      She makes people wash behind their ears and shit. Chewy would rebel.

    3. Re:Movies directed by ron howard... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mayberry RFD meets outer space?

      BAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

      I will wait for the book to come out!

  6. I hope by bugs2squash · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hope it turns out like arrested development (the initial series at least), renegade space pilot from a dysfunctional family.

    --
    Nullius in verba
    1. Re:I hope by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

      Narrator: Han went to ask Chewie if he fixed the hyperdrive.
      Han: Chewie, did you remember to fix the hyperdrive?
      Chewbacca: Arrrororaaawr.
      Narrator: Chewie was lying.

    2. Re: I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Hey, that's not wookie silly human!

      The proper wookie grammar and pronunciation is: "huuguughghg uughghhhgh raaaaaahhgh"

      Citation: http://www.wookietranslator.com/

      Chewebacca finds your lack of respect offensive.

    3. Re: I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damn autocorrect fucked up Chewbacca's name. Sorry Chewie.

    4. Re:I hope by LoginOrSignup · · Score: 3, Funny

      Jabba: I need a smuggler who can avoid imperial entanglements and keep my cargo safe

      Han: I can do that.

      Ron Howard: He can't.

    5. Re:I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Dead Wookiee. Do Not Eat."

    6. Re:I hope by iridium_ionizer · · Score: 1

      Now the story of a wealthy cadre of scoundrels who lost everything — and the one adopted son who had no choice but to keep them all together. It's Han Solo's Arrested Development.

    7. Re: I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CHEWBACCA!

      CHEWIE!

    8. Re: I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ohhhhhh what a Wookiee!

    9. Re: I hope by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      I don't dare to find out whether Rule 34 applies.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    10. Re:I hope by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Chewie: Rawwrawrr!
      Han: Has anyone on this ship even seen a chicken?

    11. Re:I hope by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I always suspected that Chewie was a never-nude.

    12. Re:I hope by CSMoran · · Score: 1

      Narrator: Han went to ask Chewie if he fixed the hyperdrive. Han: Chewie, did you remember to fix the hyperdrive? Chewbacca: Arrrororaaawr. Narrator: Chewie was lying.

      And that's how you narrate a story.

      --
      Every end has half a stick.
    13. Re:I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Happy Days!

    14. Re:I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Han: How are we going to pay for these repairs?
      Chewbacca: Raagrrrowwl kek aaggruaagl
      Han: *Sigh*...I know Buddy, there's always money in the Gorrnar Stand...

    15. Re:I hope by antdude · · Score: 1

      http://www.gocomics.com/savage...

      Imagine if C3PO was there. ;)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  7. Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    We're told this mantra over and over again and are expected to accept it unquestionably. Why?

    A great nation is one where people mostly share the same values and work towards them together. Practically diversity results in disunity and conflict.

    1. Re: Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Simply because of this

    2. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Plus1Entropy · · Score: 0, Troll

      Really, because I thought the greatest superpower the world has ever seen was a nation of immigrants.

      --
      Only crack the nuts that crack. You don't put the ones that don't crack in the sack.
    3. Re: Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only due to the non-obnoxious immigrants

    4. Re: Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So not your family then

    5. Re: Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      âoeGive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and I'll teach them to hate just like regular folks.â

    6. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes a nation of immigrants who assimilated into the "melting pot", immigrants who learned the local language and accepted the laws of the land and worked to improve the overall society. Not a "salad bowl" as others have started saying where immigrants form their own internal communities, demand recognition of their "laws", refuse to even learn to speak the local language.

    7. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by kilfarsnar · · Score: 0

      We're told this mantra over and over again and are expected to accept it unquestionably. Why?

      A great nation is one where people mostly share the same values and work towards them together. Practically diversity results in disunity and conflict.

      People different from you can teach you things you didn't know before. Having a diverse population exposes people to various viewpoints and beliefs and perhaps enables them to learn and grow. Even being exposed to things we don't like or disagree with can foster learning and growth, even if it's just identifying what we don't desire. No one population has it all figured out, and no philosophy or belief system has all the answers.

      I think you can liken it to genetics. Lack of diversity can lead to undesirable traits being passed down. Adding some fresh and different information to the line mitigates that. I'd argue that society is similar.

      --
      "What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public." -Ray Zalinsky (Tommy Boy)
    8. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by kilfarsnar · · Score: 0

      Yes a nation of immigrants who assimilated into the "melting pot", immigrants who learned the local language and accepted the laws of the land and worked to improve the overall society. Not a "salad bowl" as others have started saying where immigrants form their own internal communities, demand recognition of their "laws", refuse to even learn to speak the local language.

      You mean your language and your culture. They should become more like you, so you don't have to deal with people different from yourself or adjust in any way.

      Did the European explorers and settlers learn the local language and customs when they arrived in the "New World"? No, they took over. Now you are concerned that someone else will do to you what your ancestors did to the people who lived here when they showed up. Ironically, You are actually worried that these new immigrants are just like you.

      --
      "What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public." -Ray Zalinsky (Tommy Boy)
    9. Re: Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bullshit. Part of the founding of this nation was on the premise that people should be free to maintain their cultural practices that were banned in Europe. The early US was a mixture of people, languages and culture. Over the course of time they eventually merged but it was a long time and there were many battles against them. Who could forget the racist assaults against the Irish? What about the Italians? Do you remember reading about the battle that made its way to the supreme Court to allow German students to be taught in German? Of course you don't, because someone convinced you they are all White and all somehow held hands together and seemlessly merged into one group. There is nothing different about what has happened in the past with immigrant groups and what is now happening. The brown people assimilate and share their culture as much as anyone else. It's hilarious how gullible people are I to buying into the division fear. In the real world son, people like you are pawns for those with power. Right now those with power want a way to divide the nation to ensure they stand out and you are willing to look to them as your Savior.

    10. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A great nation is one where people mostly share the same values and work towards them together. Practically diversity results in disunity and conflict.

      Yeah, funny how the definition of "great nation" happens to align perfectly with what YOU want...

    11. Re:Why is Diversity considered a strength? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Truly. That is why I am hoping that immigrants from middle east countries can teach me how to properly stone adulterers to death, since according to a Pew survey, that's what the vast majority believe in.

  8. Opie to the rescue! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Han Solo is being recast. He will be portrayed by Don Knotts.

    1. Re:Opie to the rescue! by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Han Solo is being recast. He will be portrayed by Don Knotts.

      THAT should finally put to bed all the "Han shot first" arguments, since Andy never let Barney keep a bullet in his gun - he only had the one bullet, kept in his shirt pocket.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    2. Re:Opie to the rescue! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And here I was imagining Jar Jar as Deputy Fife.

      Not sure how that would fit this movie, but I think the casting works nonetheless.

    3. Re:Opie to the rescue! by roc97007 · · Score: 1

      That's true. And to my knowledge, there was only one episode where Andy ever allowed him to put it in his revolver.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  9. But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Will Ralph Mouth or Fonzie be in this one?

    1. Re:But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by pinzvidz · · Score: 1

      No. But the shark will be.

    2. Re:But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. But the shark will be.

      Maybe the whole SW franchise will jump it?

    3. Re:But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait, they're bringing Jar-Jar back?

    4. Re:But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It already did the moment Jabba started the race.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    5. Re:But were there Happy Days during the Empire? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're thinking of Spielberg's "Space Raiders of the Lost Extraterrestrial Shark."

  10. This is probably a good move. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    JJ Abrams hasn't made a single good movie in his career and The Force Awakens reflects that.

    Rogue One was sort of okay, but still had problems.

    Rian Johnson has made a couple good movies, but lacks experience.

    Ron Howard has made some good movies and has plenty of experience.

    1. Re:This is probably a good move. by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ron Howard has made quite a few movies. None of them broke any boundaries or even pushed envelopes. What Howard is great at is to make movies that are "safe bets". He's going to deliver a solid movie without any rough edges or bumpy patches. It will go down smoothly like a typical hamburger meal, you'll simply get what you expect and needn't worry about bad surprises.

      Or good ones.

      It will be technically solid. But don't expect anything that is going to take the franchise into a new direction or anything you could call "artistic". Then again, considering the past few "experiments", I can't really say that this is a bad thing...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:This is probably a good move. by CeasedCaring · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Ron Howard has made quite a few movies. None of them broke any boundaries or even pushed envelopes.

      Really? What about filming Apollo 13 in freefall (aboard a "vomit comet"), instead of hanging people from wires?

    3. Re:This is probably a good move. by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

      What about it? That was still well inside the Earth's atmosphere! He didn't push the envelope of the Earth's sphere and it was a freaking movie about space travel decades after moon travel was possible! Why couldn't he have filmed it IN LUNAR ORBIT?!?

    4. Re:This is probably a good move. by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      You're ignoring the history of star wars movies.

      Given the prequels, "a solid movie with few surprises" would be an improvement. It's star wars, not some arthouse film.

      Also, how many surprises are possible? Spolier alerts: we know Lando, Han, the millennium falcon, and chewie are going to live through whatever happens in the movie unless his goth son shows up. At least we're pretty sure. I'd be interested to see a movie where they unexpectedly die before the events of the original trilogy, sure, but not in a good way.

      Also, I know I'll probably lose some of my hard-earned cool indie movie cred here on slashdot by saying this but I enjoyed the two recent Disney star wars far better than the other films. Even the original trilogy! They're grandfathered in! They are considered important films because of the historical context there, not because "I got a bad feeling about this" is really quality dialogue.

      Finally and more specifically, the previous directors on the film left. The alternative isn't a movie that could turn out to be solid gold under a riskier director, the alternatives are no movie or an absolute train wreck of a movie.

    5. Re:This is probably a good move. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >None of them broke any boundaries or even pushed envelopes.

      Not required. A good story is a good story, and a good director can place it on film effectively. Can carry the STORY not his name.
      Not every movie has to be the fire hydrant for an insecure dog to pee on, so that the entire world knows his name.

      Unless of course you're from the facebook generation that must impress, capture attention, and demand more & more loyal followers.

    6. Re:This is probably a good move. by roc97007 · · Score: 1

      Ron Howard has made quite a few movies. None of them broke any boundaries or even pushed envelopes.

      Really? What about filming Apollo 13 in freefall (aboard a "vomit comet"), instead of hanging people from wires?

      I think that's the "technically solid" part.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  11. Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Exactly what I expect from Disney: the safest choice.

    And this is one of the many reasons that I regard Disney Star Wars as just high-budget fanfic.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      someone is in denial that episodes 1-3 exist, sans disney.

    2. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      As a true Star Wars fan should.

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    3. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The director of The Last Jedi is a first-time movie director. The director of Rogue One directed one movie before (I believe after they already signed him for Star Wars). The movie directors who got kicked out have done four movies before, none of them big sci-fi movies in the vein of Star Wars.

      The safest choice would be Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson or getting Ron Howard in the first place. Maybe Justin Lin or some people who have directed Fast & The Furious movies. That is pointedly not who is making the new Star Wars movies.

    4. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      And this is one of the many reasons that I regard Disney Star Wars as just high-budget fanfic

      Given the alternatives I am thankful for it.

    5. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It already started with the prequel trilogy. The whole shit felt like some pimple-faced teenager retold his "life story" the way he wishes it would have happened, including turning "bad" and bent on destroying the world when he hit puberty.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    6. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      I'm curious, what would you see as the alternative?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    7. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by CeasedCaring · · Score: 3, Funny

      Next you'll be claiming there are sequels to "The Matrix"!

    8. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Meesa doesn't liksa people trying stupid shit with well established franchises.

      The alternative to "safe" is the StarWars saga we like to pretend didn't exist. I mean episode 4 5 and 6 are great, I don't understand why they never made any prequels.

    9. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Hush, you know they'd fuck it up, let's just be glad they didn't try.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    10. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

      Next you'll be claiming there are sequels to "The Matrix"!

      Or "Highlander"!

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    11. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >implying there can be more than one

    12. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by T.E.D. · · Score: 1

      Exactly what I expect from Disney: the safest choice.

      On the bright side, that means we likely won't have to suffer through two and a half hours of shaky-cam and lens flares. A lot of what passes for "innovation" these days in directing, I can do without.

    13. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by iridium_ionizer · · Score: 1

      Exactly what I expect from Disney: the safest choice.

      And this is one of the many reasons that I regard Disney Star Wars as just high-budget fanfic.

      How do you think the Episodes 7-9 and the spin-offs would be different if Disney had at least used George Lucas' story treatments?

    14. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by roc97007 · · Score: 1

      Meesa doesn't liksa people trying stupid shit with well established franchises.

      The alternative to "safe" is the StarWars saga we like to pretend didn't exist. I mean episode 4 5 and 6 are great, I don't understand why they never made any prequels.

      Yeah, I heard that Lucas had a story in mind, and everything.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    15. Re:Ron Howard, the symbol of Hollywood mediocrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe Woody Allen was busy...

  12. Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why did Disney cast somebody as the young Han Solo who looks nothing like Harrison Ford? Anybody other than Ford playing Solo was always going to be a hard sell but t cast somebody who looks nothing like him seems idiotic to me considering how Ford's age when he first played him.

  13. ^^^ MOD THIS MAN UP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    --nomsg

  14. Emilia Clarke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and no dragons? Sigh

  15. Yawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wake me up when I can give a shit.

    1. Re:Yawn by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      The raw print is right underneath you, fire away.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  16. What about Seveneves? by simonmsh · · Score: 2

    I hope this isn't going to distract him from more important matters, like making his planned movie of Neal Stephenson's Seveneves. A TV series adaption would be even better, The Expanse has shown there's a market for fairly hard sci-fi on TV.

  17. Sounds familiar. by jrq · · Score: 2

    I've got a bad feeling about this.

    --
    My UID is prime!
    1. Re:Sounds familiar. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [Ron Howard voice] And that wasn't the only bad feeling going on.

  18. I wish he had taken Lucas' offer by sabbede · · Score: 1

    and directed the Phantom Menace. Lucas did a terrible job with all but Episode IV.

  19. Circle Gets the Square by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ron: Why do you think I dropped acting for directing?
    Homer: Because you weren't cute anymore?

  20. I'd rather see... by judoguy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clint Eastwood take over the directing. Han would be a lot cooler with a squint and he'd ALWAYS fire first,

    --
    Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
    1. Re:I'd rather see... by Radical+Moderate · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Do you feel lucky, Greedo? WELL DO YA?"

      --
      Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
  21. One last fix needed... by superdave80 · · Score: 1

    Get anybody else to play Woody Harelson's role, and I'll be set to watch this.

  22. Alden who? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck is Alden Ehrenreich? I've never seen anything with him in it.

    I remember seeing Evolution and thinking Seann William Scott had a kind of Harrison-Fordy demeanor. He could have done a good Han Solo.