5 Things You Should Know About The Firing of the Star Wars Han Solo Movie Directors

Recently, Lucasfilm made the shocking announcement that directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have been fired from the “Han Solo” movie. While it’s not unheard of for films to lose their directors, it rarely happens so late in the production process. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lord and Miller had only three weeks of principal photography left to shoot. Their sudden firing leaves a lot of questions to be answered about the future of the latest Star Wars spin-off.

1. Why were the directors fired?

Phil Lord and Chris Miller signed on as the directors of the “Han Solo” spin-off in July 2015, hot off the success of recent projects “22 Jump Street” and “The Lego Movie.” Four months later, in the middle of principal shooting, Lucasfilm asked them to step down. What happened?

Kathleen Kennedy in SDCC. Photo via Gage Skidmore (Wikimiedia Commons)

Basically, it all comes down to creative differences. A source told Variety that the relationship between the directors and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was “a culture clash from day one.” Lord and Miller expected creative freedom to work with the material, as was the case in their earlier projects. They encouraged actors to improvise and veer off the script – something that Kennedy and producer Lawrence Kasdan took issue with.

Kennedy preferred to use a “tight control” on set. She and Kasdan had worked on the Star Wars films from as far back as “The Empire Strikes Back.” They had a specific vision for the spin-off more fitting to the classic Star Wars style. These very different creative visions polarized the set and ultimately led to the directors being let go.

2. Will the Han Solo spin-off be overhauled and reshot?

We have to ask: Did “Rogue One” set the precedent for “Star Wars” spin-offs? The film notoriously underwent significant reshoots before it was released in the version audiences now know. Reportedly, executives disliked the tone of “Rogue One,” which a source likened to a war film. They asked for reshoots to add levity and lightness to the film so it fit the classic Star Wars style.

Woody Harrelson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Donald Glover, Alden Ehrenreich, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emilia Clarke, and Joonas Suotamo. Photo via Walt Disney Studios.

Now it looks like the “Han Solo” spin-off may be following in its predecessor’s footsteps, as executives disagree with how its tone fits into the franchise. Previously scheduled reshoots are expected to take place later this summer. Time will tell if executives choose to extend these weeks of shooting or even request more significant alterations. Although reshoots and additional shooting are normal, overhauls like those requested in “Rogue One” remain rare. They tend to be time-consuming, expensive, and risky. “Rogue One” managed to pull it off. Hopefully, if it comes down to it, “Han Solo” will do the same.

3. What happens to the directors’ residuals?

The firing of Lord and Miller opened up a legal can of worms for Lucasfilm, the least of which includes the issue of residuals. In other words, how will the money be distributed? Times like this when a director is asked to leave a project can go one of two ways. Either Lord and Miller pull their names from “Han Solo” and forfeit their claim to the royalties. Or they don’t. In which case, lawyers come in to negotiate between Lord and Miller’s agents and Lucasfilm (and the new director). The Directors Guild of America may also choose to step in and decide what happens next: who gets the royalties, and how much.

Photo via Lucasfilm Ltd.

4. Who will receive the directing credit for the movie?

Here’s another can of worms. Do Lord and Miller get directing credit for the finished film? Or does the new director? On one hand, Lord and Miller signed on in 2015 and have been working on filming since February. That’s a big claim to the film. But on the other hand, the new director presumably will oversee the wrap-up of filming and post-production. At that point, his or her vision (presumably) predominates over Lord and Miller’s.

To complicate things, the Director’s Guild employs a rule that allows for only one director to be assigned to direct a motion picture at a given time. Waivers allow for exceptions, of course. But even so, the DGA may feel reluctant to approve the names of three directors on one film.

Han Solo in Star Wars Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Photo via Lucasfilm, Ltd.

5. Who is being considered to replace Phil Lord and Chris Miller?

The big question that everyone’s asking. It’s only been a day or two since Lord and Miller’s firing and already some names have been tossed around. At the forefront of the list: Ron Howard. Known for his work on “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Da Vinci Code,” Howard poses an interesting choice to take control of “Han Solo.” Another possible replacement is Joe Johnston, who directed “Captain America: The First Avenger” and Jumanji.”

Whoever the new director will be, they definitely have their work cut out for them. But if the Stars Wars franchise has taught the world anything, it’s how to beat the odds. Hopefully, the “Han Solo” spin-off will follow that tradition.