Star Wars panic: Han Solo spin-off directors exit midway through filming

FILMING for next year’s Han Solo spin-off movie is well under way — but both directors have just left the project in dramatic fashion. What on earth is going on?

Christopher Miller, left, and Phil Lord have left the upcoming Han Solo project. Picture: Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File

THERE’S been a disturbance in the force: The upcoming young Han Solo film is suddenly without a director.

The news came in a joint statement by Lucasfilm and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, posted on the official Star Wars website.

“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,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm.

Christopher Miller, left, and Phil Lord are no longer involved in the Han Solo film. Picture: Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File

“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 cliche is true. We are really proud of the amazing and world-class work of our cast and crew,” stated Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

The creative partners have previously directed films including 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie together.

The untitled Han Solo origin story is still slated for a May 2018 release, and will star Alden Ehrenreich as the young Han Solo alongside an all-star cast including Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton and Emilia Clarke. It’s reported that filming was already well under way, with just three weeks left of shooting to go when the directors exited the project.

Actor Alden Ehrenreich will play the young Han Solo. Picture: Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

Earlier this month, the hosts of the Weekly Planet podcast cited a source on set who said that producer Kathleen Kennedy had been disappointed with what was being filmed.

“There are a number of reshoots for the film. The scripts are very funny but the action set pieces and acting are thought to be weak by Kathleen Kennedy,” they said.

“I don’t know whether this is true or not - it could just be one perspective for her in particular.”

The news is notably similar to media speculation this time last year about trouble during the making of Star Wars spin-off Rogue One: There were numerous reports that a different director had been drafted in to oversee reshoots and supervise script rewrites after the film had been shot.

Despite those concerning reports, Rogue One was a massive success when released in December last year, earning rave reviews and grossing more than a billion dollars worldwide at the box office.

Can Han Solo repeat that success? Fans are certainly concerned at what this late-stage directorial change means for the project:

A source tells me there are three weeks left to go on the untitled Han Solo shoot. Must have been a real war for the directors to leave... https://t.co/nN389x4d9x

— Pamela McClintock (@PamelaDayM) June 20, 2017

"Lord and Miller have left the Han Solo movie" pic.twitter.com/h7hYvtcphV

— Carly Lane (@carlylane) June 20, 2017

Whoa. Lord & Miller just dropped out as directors of The Untitled Han Solo Movie due to "Creative Differences" Damn. Thats not good. pic.twitter.com/BBgRYGaVZ4

— Andy Signore (@andysignore) June 20, 2017

Lord and Miller were kicked off the Han Solo movie, three weeks before the end of shooting. Sucks, but at least they can say they shot first

— Christian McCrea (@christianmccrea) June 21, 2017

Originally published as Star Wars panic: Han Solo spin-off directors exit midway through filming