Solo [Official Info] Phil Lord and Chris Miller NOT directing Solo

Although J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson, Colin Trevorrow, Gareth Edwards, and even the eventually dropped Josh Trank have their own threads, I've noticed there isn't a dedicated thread for the men sitting behind the camera of the (still untitled but I'm going to look stupid if they announce it in the morning) Han Solo movie: Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Their previous work includes two animated films, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and The Lego Movie, two live-action films, 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, and the animated cult TV series Clone High (no, it's not filled with Jango Fetts). Discuss their past work, what it might mean for the direction of this film, what you think Kennedy saw in them that made her think they were the right choice for this movie, and what you think/hope they're going to bring to the Star Wars universe.

If nothing else, they've at least directed the main characters before.

 

All 4 movies they have done I haven't seen, except I think CWACOM, ugh... lol

 

The one thing I've noticed about their work is that it's highly subversive. People always talk about how they've made a career by "taking bad ideas and turning them into good movies," but what gets talked about less often is why. Other than the fact that they're exceptional storytellers, their films also address head-on the fact that they're the product of inherently bad ideas. 21 Jump Street provides meta-commentary on the idea of remaking an old TV show into a movie. 22 Jump Street tackles the idea that sequels, particularly to comedy films, are unnecessary, almost always inferior, and after diminishing returns set in jump the shark by relying on more and more outlandish concepts (the end credits). The LEGO Movie addresses the inherent corporatism of making a movie based off of a plotless toyline, providing commentary on how corporations have their hands in nearly every aspect of our lives, while also telling a touching story about imagination and play as a unifying human trait.

So that got me thinking about how they'd handle a young Han Solo film, a spin-off/prequel almost nobody wanted and actively spoke against. They have to know going in that people have very valid doubts and concerns about 1) recasting two of the most iconic characters in movie history, and 2) revealing their backstory, when much of what made them interesting was the implied backstory spoken of in vague terms, alluding to events that we never see or receive elaboration on. Lord and Miller are smart filmmakers, they understand our concerns, and I have to assume they're going to be addressed in some way. The boring way would be to avoid all of them; no Kessel run, don't show how character A met character B, don't show the vest, don't give them overly complicated backstories, etc. The clever way would be to jump into all of these things headlong, and use out fears of over-explanation to craft an interesting story. Basically, to intentionally build an entire film out of needless and unwanted fan service, but handled in a clever and subversive way. Provide the expected, but in a way that's unexpected.

I'm not nearly as clever as Lord/Miller are, but god knows how much I'd go for this movie if their approach was to split different segments into chapters, which might be a convenient way to divvy up the story since it spans six years of Han's life, from 19-24. "1. When Han met Chewbacca" "2. The Kessel Run" "3. Han's New Vest." Each segments would either deal with the subject matter in a quick and casual way (Han buys the vest in a store, walks out, next segment), or it's completely incidental to the otherwise unrelated story of the segment/whole. Obviously I'm sure Lord/Miller will come up with something better and smarter than that, but I'd be absolutely shocked if this film isn't in some way a commentary on exactly the kind of movie it is and the (negative) expectations that come with that.

 

They are exceptional filmmakers and I was rallying from day one for them to be given a spin-off. I have to be honest, though, the idea of a Han Solo origin film on its own merit doesn't really fill me with excitement. It is them that makes me excited for it. I want a Lord and Miller film that just so happens to take place in the SW galaxy. That alien that was seen on the set confirms, to me, that that is what we are going to get. That alien looked pure Lord and Miller to me, not unlike something you would see in Men in Black. I remember a few years ago they were supposedly circling a He-Man film. That would have been something to see.

 

*Lego Movie Spoilers*

Spoiler

The main villain of The Lego Movie is a grown man, a dad, who collects child's toys and takes them entirely too seriously.

I have no idea how that could apply to Star Wars.

 

Here are a few interviews with Lord and Miller from the time the film was announced onwards, as well as a few with cinematographer Bradford Young in which he talks about the duo's vision and his collaboration with them. Links are provided in the order the articles were published.

Aug 2015: http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08...kling-one-of-the-best-characters-ever-created

Nov 2015: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/phil-lord-chris-miller-star-840948

Oct 2016: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life.../?hootPostID=ddb9f58738945433e30fad8bd15d7124

Oct 2016: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/20...e-a-big-prank-lego-movie-directors-phil-lord/

Nov 2016: http://uproxx.com/movies/bradford-young-han-solo-arrival/

Nov 2016: http://collider.com/bradford-young-arrival-han-solo-movie-interview/#denis-villeneuve

Nov 2016: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/bradford-young-arrival-han-solo

 

So much this. Man, I will declare this film the best SW film of all time if they include a chapter "How Han got his vest" and it's a 20-second clip of him walking into a store and buying it. What you've described above is exactly the kind of film Lord and Miller should make.

 

21 Jump Street, while not the greatest thing I've ever seen... was pretty entertaining and far better than it had any business being.

The Lego movie was awesome.... you have no idea how much better a movie like that makes your life when you have small children and don't want to have Frozen in the background for the 15423rd time (and I like Frozen )

 

Yeah. Me neither. Better late than never. I think the Han Solo movie is in good hands.

 

My only worry is, Will they be able to pull off as good a film with the 'meta-humor' pulled out of their tool box?
The conversations about how sequels are bad made 22JS for me. And I crack up every time I see Will Ferral cut his eyes at the wiggling Emmet lego man. But I don't know if I want Han or Chewie or Lando going Ferris Bueller and talking to me, or making joke about an audience watching them in a galaxy far far away.

 

I think a major factor in favour of this movie is that it's being written by Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote TESB, ROTJ and TFA, and is generally acknowledged to write the best Han Solo. It also seems to be the case that Lucas himself initially got the Han Solo Movie ball rolling. Of the numerous criticisms voiced over the PT, the only one you never hear is that they has not plot, infact the prevailing view of those movies tends to be "a good idea, poorly executed". So at least this movie will probably have some compelling ideas to explore, if nothing else. Moreover with Kennedy at the helm of Lucasfilm, most of the weirder Lucasisms (Ewoks, Gungun's) that tend to generate a mixed reaction from audiences will be weeded out in pre-production, While the cooler Lucasisms (think awesome villans, Podracing) will be there.
As you can tell, I'm in agreement with the MSW people on this.

Also:http://makingstarwars.net/2017/05/l...oncepts-confirm-canary-islands-location-name/

Spoiler

And speaking of Podracing...

 

Pod racers were the Endor speeder bikes hyped up.
I'll be very happy with a speeder bike chase.

 

I keep forgetting Kasdan wrote it.

I'm good then.

 

And now they're out. Huge news.

http://www.starwars.com/news/a-message-from-lucasfilm-regarding-the-untitled-han-solo-film

 

I can't believe they're leaving in the middle of principal photography.

 

Oh wow.

 

This is crazy. Lord and Miller had been working on this for at least a couple of years, and to pull out halfway through production is pretty shocking.

 

Hopefully this doesn't cause a delay.

 

3 more weeks left of filming according to the Hollywood Reporter.

 

I'm almost hoping it does, if it means they aren't rushing to fix whatever caused Lord and Miller's departure.