Random Film Thoughts: Solo: A Star Wars Story-What’s The Point?

So, there’s four months until Solo: A Star Wars Story comes out…and all we have are a few photographs and a synopsis! Yes, that’s right: no trailers, no footage, nothing. The second Star Wars spin-off has had some difficulties (like getting rid of the original directors four months after they started filming the thing!). The new director, Ron Howard, has had a lot on his plate. What will come of Solo: A Star Wars Story? All we have for now is the synopsis. It’s furthered even more my belief that the Solo spin-off in pointless!

Here it is:

“Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.”

Let’s face it: this is not new information at all. As soon as we found out about the Han Solo spin-off, we understood what we’d receive. We’d receive a Solo origin story, one that shows us how he met Chewie and Lando and also became a lovable rogue. In the old Star Wars lore, Solo had trained to be an Imperial Stormtrooper before veering off into a life of crime. Whether or not that will be used in the new film, who knows? Because even with the synopsis, we know next to nothing about the film.

If this is real artwork from Disney…then what are they playing at?

According to Howard, he finished filming in October 2017. But still, there’s no footage, not even a few seconds! I half-expected a little tease before The Last Jedi, but nothing. When will we get a trailer? Or will Disney delay the film? In an ideal world, they’d give up on Solo: A Star Wars Story and develop a spin-off we actually want! Or, more accurately, I actually want. Because I can’t think of a spin-off I want less than one about Han Solo. Just think about it!

How can they give us character progression or development for Han Solo? We see him in A New Hope as a rogue, a selfish scoundrel who doesn’t care about right and wrong. By the end, he throws away his selfishness and joins the Rebellion (by saving Luke Skywalker!). What character arc can he have in the spin-off film? He starts out as a good guy and becomes a criminal? But we all know how it will turn out, just like we knew how Rogue One would turn out. It’s all so boring, isn’t it?

Not only that, but I was a little excited about it when Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were in the directing position. After 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie, I was looking forward to a Star Wars spin-off that made us laugh again and again (and possibly poke fun at the mere fact of Star Wars spin-offs!). With Ron Howard as the replacement director, however, I can’t muster the little enthusiasm I had for the film. He’s there to take orders from Kathleen Kennedy and others. It will be a film without spirit, without an original voice.

I’m not surprised that Disney has only given us a synopsis for Solo: A Star Wars Story. I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney delays it (but what date would they move it to? It’s a packed year for blockbusters!). If they haven’t even got footage to give us a simple teaser trailer, they can’t be very far with splicing the movie together, can they? After the mixed reaction to The Last Jedi, I reckon Disney are overseeing Solo like demented dictators, making sure that there’s enough fan service and jokes to appease the audience. I’d rather they just scrap the whole thing and give us an original spin-off!

Click here for my Ideas For Star Wars Spin-Offs!

Click here for my Ideas For Star Wars Spin-Offs Episode II

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