It came as quite the surprise last year when it was announced that Lucasfilm had fired directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller with just weeks of principal photography remaining on Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Ron Howard was brought on board the project in an effort to salvage the movie, the filmmaker overseeing reshoots which accounted for around three-quarters of the final film and leaving fans speculating as to what material was Howard’s, and what remained from Lord and Miller’s vision.
Well, we now have a little insight into the original plans thanks to screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan who, posting to Twitter, has revealed several scenes originated by Lord and Miller.
In early drafts of the script there was no speeder chase. This was something [Chris and Phil] conceived and C&P and [Ron Howard] executed, in my opinion, beautifully. They all felt we needed to see Han’s skill “behind the yoke” and that it could it pay off later in the Kessel Run. [Lawrence Kasdan], much more focused on the Dickensian element, was more passionate about the foot-chase and the deleted eel barrel scene which is included in the extras.
C&P had the idea that Chewie would be “the beast,” a punishment for disobedient soldiers (and I suppose droids) on Mimban. They also had the brilliant idea to have Han, at the crucial moment, speak Shyriiwook. The mud pit is pure C&P and, for my money, it’s one of the best scenes in the movie.
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The Lodge at Fort ypso was something that came from C&P. They were inspired by Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller and really wanted to have that dark, wintery mountain lodge-feeling in the movie. Bradford’s work on that particular set is especially beautiful and was an anchor point for the look and feel of the whole movie.
L3 was a character conceived in conversations between C&P, LK and myself. It’s interesting to see how divisive she’s been in these extremely divisive and politically-charged times… The truth is, she actually evolved out of CM’s astute observation that it was funny that the bartender at Mos Eisley objected to Threepio, considering droids seem to be the least rambunctious folk in the galaxy.
Lando’s cape closet, another great idea that’s pure C&P. That scene was always meant to parallel the scene between Leia and Han in the avionics closet in Empire. We liked the idea of seeing Han in a similar situation, with a similar type of banter, but a very different partner, one who maybe teaches him a thing or two.
If you’re interested in more insight into the movie from Kasdan, be sure to check out his full Twitter post here.
SEE ALSO: Phil Lord and Chris Miller discuss their Solo: A Star Wars Story credit
A new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
Solo: A Star Wars Story features Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as the famous smuggler, Donald Glover (Atlanta) as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Tobias Beckett, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) as L3-37, Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as Qi’Ra, Thandie Newton (Westworld) as Val, Ian Kenny (Sing Street) as Rebolt, Harley Durst (Wonder Woman) as Moloch, Jon Favreau (Spider-Man: Homecoming) as Rio Durant, Paul Bettany (Avengers: Infinity War) as Dryden Vos and Warwick Davis (Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) as Weazel.
