Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have dropped out of Disney’s untitled Han Solo Star Wars spin-off film.
Kids still president Kathleen Kennedy broke the news in an announcement this evening that read in part –
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.
For their part Lord and Miller also cleaved to the “creative differences” explanation in their own statement.
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 news comes as a surprise as The film has already been in production since February in London. Reportedly, there are still several weeks of principal photography left, with a round of reshoots scheduled for late in the summer.
There is no word as to who will be sliding into the director’s chair for the remainder of the production, not whose name will ultimately be on the film.
Alden Ehrenreich is set to star as the young Han Solo, the roguish space pirate portrayed by Harrison Ford in the main Star Wars saga. Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover round out the main cast.
This is not the first Star Wars spin-off film to have a shake up in its chief creative staff on its way to the big screen. Last year’s Rogue One saw its director Gareth Edwards step aside while Tony Gilroy oversaw rewrites and reshoots late in its production schedule.
Disney seems confident that this shakeup will not delay the film, as it is still scheduled for a May 25, 2018 release.
