Veteran director Ron Howard has been tapped to pick up the pieces of the troubled “Star Wars” Han Solo prequel project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Mr. Howard has his work cut out for him.
THR reports that nearly three-quarters of the film’s principal photography was already in the can prior to co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller being fired from the Lucasfilm project earlier this week.
According to THR, there are 3½ more weeks left in the project’s shooting schedule and an additional five weeks budgeted for reshoots.
The film, starring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, is currently slated for a May 25 release in U.S. cinemas next year, according to the Internet Movie Database.
This is the second much-hyped, blockbuster-movie project in recent months to see a new director named late in the game during production.
In May, Joss Whedon — who directed the first two films in Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise — stepped in for Zack Snyder to complete “Justice League,” which is set for a November release. Mr. Snyder stepped aside from the project, citing grief over his daughter’s recent death.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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