Solo actor Paul Bettany reacts to film’s criticism
Fans of Solo: A Star Wars Story aren’t the only ones confused with the film’s lack of box office success.
Paul Bettany, who plays the crime boss antagonist Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story, recently sat down with MTV at San Diego Comic-Con. Of course, the conversation turned to Star Wars.
MTV asked Bettany about his general thoughts concerning Solo.
Bettany states that he loved playing Vos. On the film’s box office failure, Bettany says:
"…it was confusing to me because I thought the story was so great; I thought the execution was so great. So, it’s surprising to me."
We agree Mr. Bettany.
Paul Bettany on 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Criticism | San Diego Comic Con
Solo: A Star Wars Story's Paul Bettany responds to criticism of the film's performance.
Posted by MTV on Friday, July 20, 2018
Solo initially seemed like a movie no one wanted. How could you recast one of the most iconic Star Wars – nay, movie – characters of all time and expect fans to just accept the drastic change, especially after Harrison Ford so recently appeared as Han Solo in The Force Awakens?
Even after initial hesitations by fans, Solo experienced an abundance of production issues ranging from Lucasfilm firing Phil Lord and Chris Miller as directors and rumors swirling Alden Ehrenreich didn’t have the acting chops to extensive re-shoots under the helm of Ron Howard.
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Despite all these issues, Solo, at least in my opinion, was excellent. It had exciting action sequences and Ehrenreich was totally believable as everyone’s favorite scoundrel. Plus, it had that cameo.
It was essentially a love letter to die hard Star Wars fans without slapping you across the face with ‘did-you-catch-that’ moments a-la Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba in Rogue One. It had loads of Easter eggs and references that only fans who have fully immersed themselves in Star Wars canon would understand, yet simultaneously make sense to less experienced viewers as simple world building.
Unfortunately, these positives weren’t enough to outweigh the negatives, at least for the general movie-going audience. It’s nice to know that even Dryden Vos himself is dumbfounded by Solo’s lack of success.
The cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story
Bettany does add, with a chuckle, that it did make hundreds of millions of dollars.
It’s funny that hundreds of millions of dollars, at least in Hollywood, just isn’t enough.
Don’t forget, however, that rebellions are built on hope.
Next: Solo: A Star Wars Story Blu-ray details have been revealed
Bettany concludes his thoughts with an important note. He reminds us that Solo is a Star Wars movie. Therefore, everyone is going to see it, at least eventually. Even more apprehensive moviegoers will likely rent or purchase the film when it’s released for home consumption.
Despite the box office ‘failure,’ the movie may catch a second wind, and some more love from Star Wars fans, when it’s released on Digital HD on September 14th and Blu-ray on September 25th.