The flop Ron Howard waited 40 years to make: “I’m beyond grateful”
In a cut-throat business like Hollywood, the few people who build a reputation on their kindness stick out like a sore thumb, with Ron Howard becoming known as the nice guy of the industry. You might imagine that this is hard to do when directing unstoppable classics like A Beautiful Mind, Appolo 13 and The DaVinci Code, but the director has proved that you can be both powerful and well-liked, with countless collaborators singing his praises and returning to work with him on whatever project he has up his sleeves. Tom Hanks, in particular, is associated with the director’s filmography, with the two combining together to form the ultimate duo of sweethearts in an otherwise brutal industry.
But while the director is celebrated for undeniable classics such as The Grinch, Willow and Splash, he has also made his fair share of flops and been met with equally harsh criticism, sharing the film he waited his entire career for only for it to completely crumble apart.
The Star Wars franchise is one of the most beloved series of all time, with the story set in a galaxy far, far away taking the world by storm and sparking countless spinoffs that have attempted to capitalise on the success of the original films.
After the release of the first film in 1977, the story of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo swept through the film industry like wildfire, with George Lucas becoming an overnight success after being repeatedly told that the film would flop.
Much like many people, Howard was a huge fan of the franchise, describing how at the time, Lucas had told him about his plans to create a ‘fun’ sci-fi film, with the first film being released a few years later. Howard was one of the lucky ones to see it for the first time on the big screen, describing his sheer shock and amazement at what he had just seen and how he went straight back into the queue to see the film again.
As a result, Howard seemed like the perfect director to helm the 20187 film Solo: A Star Wars Story, a stand-alone prequel film that explores the life of Han Solo, one of the most revered characters from the franchise. Originally, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were set to direct the film, but after disagreements with the screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, they were both fired, and Howard was brought in as a replacement. After the announcement that he would take over, Howard shared his gratitude and undying love for the franchise on social media, expressing how he had been “a fan forever”.
But while he might have waited 40 years to join the franchise, the world could have gone without his instalment to the series, with the film monumentally flopping and being obliterated by fans and critics alike. Many discussed how the portrayal of Han Solo without Harrison Ford was a borderline sacrilegious decision, with people also criticising the poor script and mediocre visuals. As a result, Howard’s name was then attached to one of the worst films in the franchise, and no matter how nice he is, some Star Wars fans will sadly always remember him for this.
