Just one day after taking the reins of the “Star Wars” Han Solo movie after the abrupt firing of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Ron Howard appeared at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to discuss his love of the franchise and other topics.
“I’ve been a fan forever,” Howard told WPP founder Martin Sorrell on stage Friday. “It’s gratifying to lend my voice to the ‘Star Wars’ universe now.”
The actor-turned-director first met “Star Wars” creator George Lucas as the star of Lucas’ previous movie, “American Graffiti,” and he recalled taking his wife, Cheryl, to wait in a two-hour line to see the sci-fi epic on the day it came out in 1977.
“I was transported by the movie,” Howard said, adding that he and Cheryl waited another 90 minutes to see it again immediately afterward.
“So many people involved with the ‘Star Wars’ franchise are friends,” Howard said of stepping aboard the Han Solo project. “I’m coming in at a point where it’s already been in production, and there’s already been a lot of really great work done.”
Lord and Miller had completed 17 weeks of production before being abruptly yanked from the project with about five weeks remaining. Howard is expected to resume production on July 10 with Disney and Lucasfilm still targeting a May 25, 2018, release date.
At Cannes Lions, the Oscar-winning filmmaker also talked about his pride in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13” and his interest in tackling Broadway musical at one point, mentioning that two of his earlier movies, “Nightshift” and “Parenthood” were both possibilities for adaptation.
He also speculated on how President Donald Trump might be depicted by Hollywood. “I’m looking forward to the day … his presidency is dramatized years from now that it’s a hysterical musical comedy on Broadway called ‘Trumped.’”