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THR: Ron Howard officially directing Han Solo after Lord/Miller firing

I remain quite okay with this.

Let us collectively hope we get Good Ron here and not Bad Ron, obviously...but we know Good Ron is capable of classics.

I'm sure he understands the stakes (to the billion-dollar franchise, to his reputation), so I don't see a reason to think we'll get anything less than his best (in as far as sci-fi can accommodate).
 

Solo

Member
All-Bonds1.jpg


edit: And before someone pipes up w/ "but sometimes they didn't release them once every couple of years" that's not because they didn't want to

And? Bond is a perfect example of that. No argument there. And it's a franchise that would likely be much better if they'd made fewer films and instead focused on making good ones

I dunno, like, it just rubs me wrong that you're going to continue to get 2 or 3 Marvel Studios movies a year in perpetuity, not because they have endless amazing stories to tell, but because why wouldn't they with the money they are making? And obviously I understand it from the business perspective. It's a no brainer. So I'm talking purely from my perspective as a fan.
 
Look at the poster I'm responding to.

Ah right, sorry. I disagree with that poster. The Star Wars universe is so grand that I'm fine exploring different parts on a yearly basis.

Standalone stories are fun, rather than the Marvel formula where none of the individual movies have any stakes or ending with it always tying into yet another movies.
 

firelogic

Member
I'd prefer it if they scrapped all the "young X" movies after Han Solo. Do we really need to know about Han, Obi-Wan, Boba Fett, or anyone else's younger days? I'd rather they put their resources into telling new stories involving new characters or go back in time to the days of the Old Republic. Sure keep going with the Skywalker/Solo lineage in the main movies but for spinoffs, let's actually see something new. This is their chance to actually branch off and explore the universe instead of going back to the OT well by doing prequels for each of the main characters.
 

SeanC

Member
They want a team player, Star Wars is filmmaking by committee and Howard is a great choice. Actors love him. Producers love him. Writers love him.

Plus he's just a super nice guy and I'm happy he's helming a big franchise picture like this.
 

Batjag

Member
But I'm more curious as to what's in it for him. I mean, yes, he's had a few bombs lately but his name still carries a lot of weight in Hollywood and I'm surprised that he would accept to finish somebody else's movie. It's not like he's hurting for money and I'm pretty sure he could still get another project greenlighted fairly easily.

He's securing his future. Now that Kathleen Kennedy knows she wants mostly "safe" Star Wars movies, an old pro like Ron Howard fits the bill.

With the Da Vinci Code series having flamed out, Howard will now start alternating Star Wars movies with his oscar bait projects to keep himself in the game.
 
Honestly, I don't even know that they can.

You can give these movies basically three weeks in either direction and I don't think you're going to hurt their income.

They have Frozen 2 positioned as the de facto family holiday film of 2018. There is winter vacation overlap on spending for these films if Han Solo moved to December.

I'd prefer it if they scrapped all the "young X" movies after Han Solo. Do we really need to know about Han, Obi-Wan, Boba Fett, or anyone else's younger days? I'd rather they put their resources into telling new stories involving new characters or go back in time to the days of the Old Republic. Sure keep going with the Skywalker/Solo lineage in the main movies but for spinoffs, let's actually see something new. This is their chance to actually branch off and explore the universe instead of going back to the OT well by doing prequels for each of the main characters.

What you are describing is a risk. What they are churning is incredibly safe and moneymaking.
 

Blader

Member
Star Wars stories in general were a mistake. I know I'm in the minority here, and I know money makes the world turn, but I'm really not a fan of the model of having to release at least one film per calendar year because reasons (read: it prints money). It would be more refreshing to release movies when they had a good new story to tell, be it six months or 6 years after the last one. I just feel like it dilutes a brand for me fast when you know there will be a new film or two like clockwork every year.

fwiw, Kasdan has wanted to tell this story since before even TFA. It was on the table before Episode VII, and I think his involvement on that movie with JJ was even contingent on getting to write the Han Solo film with his son.
 
I imagine the 5 weeks of reshoots will be drastically rethought. Probably dedicated to taking out of the L&M feel. Wouldn't be surprised if they extended that period.
 
The safest move possible. Shame.

Everything that's happened this month involving Star Wars has made me more and more nervous about its future in a way only comparable to how we all felt during the prequel trilogy
 

borghe

Loves the Greater Toronto Area
Man, I never got the love for Lord and Miller. Like LEGO Movie was outstanding.. and that was it. Their biggest claim to fame (outside of LEGO Movie) is that they can take barely an idea/story and make a good movie out of it. I mean that's fine and all.. but people gush over them like they're the second coming. Lots of directors out there are capable of making "good" movies.

Anywho... Howard's recent output has been ok notwithstanding the Dan Brown adaptations.. so I am ok with him fixing this.
 

DOWN

Banned
Remember when everyone said Rogue One was going to be ruined by the studio reshoots trying to change the vision to fit the brand? But it turned out good?
 
They have Frozen 2 positioned as the de facto family holiday film of 2018. There is winter vacation overlap on spending for these films if Han Solo moved to December.

Pretty soon here, just by dint of the number of releases they're puttin out in a year, we're going to end up with a situation (actually, I believe it's already happened) where Disney puts out a major release for Thanskgiving, and then 3 weeks later puts out their major Christmas release, and neither film is going to have been financially damaged by the other existing.

If anything, we might find out the presence of two bonafide hits/phenomenons both at the theater concurrently might subtly stretch the legs through the winter a little longer as people keep returning to the multiplex to watch/rewatch both.
 
Pretty soon here, just by dint of the number of releases they're puttin out in a year, we're going to end up with a situation (actually, I believe it's already happened) where Disney puts out a major release for Thanskgiving, and then 3 weeks later puts out their major Christmas release, and neither film is going to have been financially damaged by the other existing.

If anything, we might find out the presence of two bonafide hits/phenomenons both at the theater concurrently might subtly stretch the legs through the winter a little longer as people keep returning to the multiplex to watch/rewatch both.

Sure but people are talking about it moving to the now traditional mid December slot for SW.

That isn't a 3 week buffer between Frozen 2 and Han Solo.
 

Kinyou

Member
Remember when everyone said Rogue One was going to be ruined by the studio reshoots trying to change the vision to fit the brand? But it turned out good?
Changing directors so far in feels a bit more severe. Is there even a precedent for this?

I wonder how well the tone of the edit and what was actually filmed will match up.
 
Remember when everyone said Rogue One was going to be ruined by the studio reshoots trying to change the vision to fit the brand? But it turned out good?

I think it was shoddily edited and jarring as all fuck in terms of scene transition, pacing, sometimes tone.

A lot of my criticism of that film I'm happy to lay at Edwards' hand - the charisma vacuum of the two lead performances - and general franchise blockbuster stuff - the best actor in the cast, Mendelsohn, getting shoved aside for CGI Tarkin and pointless Vader - but I can imagine my issues with its cohesiveness and flow stem from the fact different directors worked on it.
 
Ugh.

That sounds like it was probably really, really fun. Fucking hell.

Not really.

Han and Chewie aren't meant to be acting like a comedic duo like the Jump St dudes.

Han's humour is dark and sarcastic, which is apparently what was missing from the performance in favour of comedy relief.
 
Lord/Miller track record is so much better than Ron Howards.I really wanted to watch their vision.
You're comparing people who have directed 2-3 movies to a guy who has been directing them for 40 years.

It's not a wonder why one has a better track record.
 
Lord/Miller track record is so much better than Ron Howards.I really wanted to watch their vision.

The hell? They made the jump street movies and the Lego movie, Ron Howard directed Cinderella Man and beautiful mind.

Also the fight was with Kasdan? Yeah, I'll still hold out hope sense Lord and Miller don't have any experience in this area of film making
 

Batjag

Member
Remember when everyone said Rogue One was going to be ruined by the studio reshoots trying to change the vision to fit the brand? But it turned out good?

I think a lot of people think it turned out good. Not many thought it turned out great.

I also think Lucasfilm is happy being right there consistently, which bugs me.
 

Solo

Member
Ah right, sorry. I disagree with that poster. The Star Wars universe is so grand that I'm fine exploring different parts on a yearly basis.

Standalone stories are fun, rather than the Marvel formula where none of the individual movies have any stakes or ending with it always tying into yet another movies.

I should rephrase. I'm not against Star Wars side stories in theory - if there's a great story to tell, then hell yeah! - I'm against the commoditization (I know, it's hilarious to cite the monetization of the most monetized franchise ever) and annualization of it.It just feels like a cynical cash grab to push a film every year just because. But hey, that is the movie business after all.

I'll return now to yelling at clouds.
 

moggio

Banned
To quote The Evil Prince:

Only the boring and bland shall survive!
Only the lamest of lameness will thrive!
Take it or leave it, you wont be alive,
If you are ov-ert-ly creative!
 

Skinpop

Member
Ok pal. Is Spielberg on your "list" too? They need someone with tons of experience to clean this up.

Spielberg is great. Howard is a turd that suffers from the syndrome of making everything he touches predictable and mediocre. In other words, he will fit right in with this project.
 

Ristifer

Member
What you are describing is a risk. What they are churning is incredibly safe and moneymaking.
Star Wars will make money regardless of risk. It's a massive brand. I'm kind of confused that people on forums think more risky storylines would turn SW into an indie darling that makes no money out of nowhere. It'll make money whether it copies the OT or has tremendous amounts of space orgies. That's not going to change.
 
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