Well, that would be interesting.
Deadline hears that Ron Howard has emerged as front-runner to replace Phil Lord & Christopher Miller on the untitled Han SoloStar Wars spinoff film. Disney dropped a shocker this afternoon with the announcement that the duo exited a picture that has been in production since February at London’s Pinewood Studios.
I mean, they gotta get somebody. But Ron Howard hasn’t had a real hit for almost a decade. Does the Mouse even want him directing a Star Wars flick? Han Solo is not really his style. — Note that I’m assuming that the Mouse can get him, if the Mouse happens to want Ron Howard. You can do that, when you’re well on the way to owning the entire American film industry outright.
Then again, I can’t think of anybody offhand who might be good for directing the Han Solo standalone. I’m not even sure what the Han Solo standalone would be about. Besides spectacle, of course.
perhaps… James Gunn? Seems to do well with sarcastic rogue types and I don’t know if he’s immediately working on the next Guardians film or not…
Rumour has it that the directors were fired for making the movie too much of a comedy. Don’t think they will want to have another Guardians movie by a different name.
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If Ron Howard can channel what made him great in the 90s, there is hope. Backdraft, Apollo 13 were excellent movies. Maybe he can strike a deal with Disney that would allow him to take a fresh stab at Willow.
The Mouse already has a working relationship with Joss Wheedon, who already has a history with(ahem) space-westerns.
Tarsem Singh would be an interesting choice. Or Peter Berg. M. Night Shyamalan has been doing good work lately. I draw the line at Michael Bay, though.