Overview

• Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and writer Jonathan Kasdan approached Howard when they determined Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s material diverged tonally from the scripted Star Wars vision.
• Howard agreed to conduct extensive reshoots to realign the film with Lucasfilm’s expectations, retaining some of the original scenes while reshaping the narrative’s tone.
• Early in the transition, Howard spoke with George Lucas, who emphasized that the movie was “for 12-year-old boys,” a guideline Howard says guided his reshoot decisions.
• Solo grossed approximately $393 million worldwide against a reported $275 million budget, and its inflated costs and lukewarm reception led to the cancellation of planned sequels and a slowdown in Star Wars theatrical releases.
• Despite enjoying the process, Howard criticizes the end result as lacking a personal imprint, calling the final product “a shame.”