When Ron Howard stepped in to finish Solo: A Star Wars Story, he was taking over a production already notorious for creative upheaval. Phil Lord and Chris Miller had left, and the project needed steady hands to bring it across the finish line. But before Howard started, he got a simple yet profound piece of advice from the galaxy’s creator himself. “Just don’t forget it’s for 12-year-old boys,” George Lucas told him. As Howard explained to Vulture, it wasn’t a note to simplify the story or dumb it down, but a reminder to honor the heart of Star Wars – adventure, excitement, and pure fun.
Howard leaned into that advice, using it as a lens for every choice he made on set. “It’s really about making sure the audience is entertained and that the characters are relatable, and that the universe feels consistent,” he told the outlet. That mindset guided the tone of the film, from Han’s first encounter with Chewbacca to the thrill of the Kessel Run (in under 12 parsecs, obviously). Even as Howard endured rewrites and studio notes, Lucas’s advice reminded him to retain the sense of wonder that has always made Star Wars resonate across generations.
Howard was also keen to give credit to the original directorial team behind Solo. As Variety reported, the director was mindful of the work Phil Lord and Chris Miller had already done. “The work that Phil and Chris did was really substantial. I didn’t want to erase their contributions, so I made sure to honor what they brought to the story and the characters,” he said. It was a balancing act to respect the duo’s vision while still implementing his own approach to keep the production on track.
Howard also bore Lucas’s advice when it came to character moments. Han Solo is a scoundrel, yes, but he’s also someone audiences should root for. “You have to find the balance. You can’t make something so complex that it loses the fun and spirit of adventure,” Howard told Vulture. By keeping the story accessible and fun, Howard aimed to capture the gritty charm of the classic Star Wars adventure films without ignoring the expectations of modern audiences.
Behind the scenes, Howard clarified that the entire production was about collaborative filmmaking. For the Solo team, it was never about overwriting or replacing previous work, but building on it. “It was about understanding the heart of the story and making sure it was consistent with the universe,” he explained.
Beyond Howard’s direction, the film’s cast also deserves credit for bringing Han Solo and his world to life. Alden Ehrenreich brought a charismatic yet vulnerable energy to the young smuggler, while Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian had the perfect amount of swagger, cementing a fan-favorite performance in a short but memorable role. Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett added depth to the mentor archetype, and Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra offered a compelling combination of emotion and betrayal. Together, this ensemble helped ground Howard’s vision and gave audiences a reason to care about the stakes of the story, even when studio pressures were high.
Ultimately, Howard’s reflections reveal the careful thought and creative negotiation that go into every Star Wars project. A single piece of advice — don’t forget who the audience is — guided so many choices, from pacing to character beats, and helped Solo stay true to the adventurous spirit of the franchise. Despite the fact that Solo was not a commercial success by box office standars, fans have keep the conversation alive — the “#MakeSolo2Happen” movement pops up periodically on social media, reminding the Star Wars community that interest in this era hasn’t faded and that Solo: A Star Wars Story really isn’t as a bad as you remember. We promise.