After the shock news that Phil Lord and Chris Miller had been fired from their positions on the Han Solo spin-off movie, it was revealed yesterday by Disney and Lucasfilm that Ron Howard would be taking over. Ron Howard has a lot of connections to George Lucas, appearing in the director’s American Graffiti and he was even approached with the chance to direct Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Read more here.
Looking ahead to Star Wars: Episode IX and it has been revealed that director Colin Trevorrow made a small request of Star Wars: The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson. “It wasn’t an adjustment, it was just ‘Could you shoot this one extra thing while you’re in this place on this day?’ And he did, which was great. But, y’know, it’s part of the collaborative process that exists – everyone is in communication.” Just what could that small thing be? Read more here.
Speaking of Trevorrow, and the sequel to his 2015 dino smash Jurassic World was given an official title and poster yesterday – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Pretty badass, eh? Check out the poster here.
Keeping with the sequels theme now, and we should be expecting our first look at Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle any time soon. In an new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, star Jack Black has been talking about the film’s connections to the original. “We’re exploring this jungle and trying to conquer the game; it’s life or death, but while we’re there, we find clues left behind by [Robin Williams’ character Alan Parrish],” states Black. “He built up a full-blown jungle house, similar to a Swiss Family Robinson situation. It’s like he’s there helping us without actually being there… [In the original] you never got to see the inside world, but this one takes place primarily inside the jungle of Jumanji. That’s the coolest part of the film — we’re able to transport the audience to that secret and wondrous land, with the danger and the beauty.” Read more here.
INSIDE THE SANCTUM
Following the super-cool behind the scenes photo of Iron Man, Hulk, Doctor Strange and Wong, former MCU helmer Scott Derickson has shared another image from the Avengers: Infinity War set – this time from his old stomping grounds of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Check out the image here.
Transformers: The Last Knight isn’t looking to do so well at the box office this weekend, which won’t be a good sign for the Bumblebee spin-off. Although according to producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the solo film is going to be very different from what we’ve seen so far from the five Bay-directed movies. “The objective of that movie is to develop more time with less robots in a way, and to go back to 1985 and go back to sort of the original heritage if you would of the Transformers,” he said. “So it has a very distinct idea in it, and then whatever is gonna happen with the chemistry is what’s gonna happen, but it really is a young female lead opposite Bumblebee.” Read more here.
Anghus Houvouras has some thoughts on Lord and Miller leaving the Han Solo movie, which you can read here.
