Ron Howard takes over as director of Star Wars' Han Solo spinoff movie

Just two days after rocking the entertainment world by announcing it had parted ways with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, once-hyped directors of the untitled Han Solo spinoff of Star Wars, Lucasfilm said Thursday that Ron Howard will take over the project.

“At Lucasfilm, we believe the highest goal of each film is to delight, carrying forward the spirit of the saga that George Lucas began forty years ago,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, in a statement. “With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Ron Howard will step in to direct the untitled Han Solo film. We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie. Filming will resume the 10th of July.”

An Academy Award winner, and protege of Star Wars creator George Lucas, Howard has made some of the biggest hits and most critically-acclaimed movies of the modern era: Lucasfilm’s own Willow, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon, Rush. He also narrated and produced TV’s Arrested Development, starred in George Lucas’ American Graffiti, and of course became famous as a boy for roles in The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days.

Lucasfilm said the Han Solo spinoff is slated for a May 25, 2018, release.