Imagine piloting the Millennium Falcon for the first time, only to realize the controls feel all wrong. That’s the tightrope Kathleen Kennedy walked during her tenure at Lucasfilm. Now, as she prepares to pass the lightsaber to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, a surprising confession has surfaced: a glimmer of regret surrounding Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Speaking with Deadline, Kennedy openly questioned the timing, rather than the entire concept, of the film.
“No, I don’t really have any regrets. Well, maybe a bit of regret about Solo: A Star Wars Story,” Kennedy said. “I brought Larry Kasdan in on [it], and we were so excited about that idea. And then when you’re into something, and you realize conceptually, you cannot replace Han Solo, at least right now.”
“As wonderful as Alden Ehrenreich was, and he really was good, and is a wonderful actor, we put him in an impossible situation,” she continued. “And once you’re in it and once you’re committed, you’ve got to carry on. I think I have a bit of regret about that, but not about the moviemaking and filmmaking. I don’t have regrets about that. I just think that conceptually, we did it too soon.”
A Galaxy Far, Far Away… From a Recast?
Think of a jazz solo. It’s amazing because of the artist behind the horn. Kennedy’s candidness is interesting, but it goes further. She clarifies that her reservations about Solo don’t extend to “the moviemaking and filmmaking.” This is noteworthy, especially when you recall that Phil Lord and Chris Miller were initially at the helm, only to be replaced by Ron Howard during production. Kennedy’s statement can be interpreted as a subtle acknowledgement of one of her more debated choices as head of Lucasfilm.
The weight of expectation can crush even the brightest stars. There’s a risk in revisiting iconic roles. Solo, despite being a solid film with a promising premise, perhaps stumbled because some characters are inextricably linked to their original actors. Han Solo and Indiana Jones are prime examples of this phenomenon.
Was Alden Ehrenreich the wrong choice for Han Solo?
Ehrenreich faced an uphill battle. Taking on a role made famous by Harrison Ford is like trying to replicate a masterpiece – the original’s shadow looms large. Kennedy acknowledges that Ehrenreich was a “wonderful actor” placed in an “impossible situation.” The actor did his best, but some roles seem destined to be played by one person only. It’s worth asking: Was it the actor, or was the timing simply off?
The Ron Howard Factor: Salvaging Solo
Ever tried to course-correct a runaway train? Ron Howard stepped in to do just that with Solo. The departure of Lord and Miller mid-production created a vacuum, and Howard, a seasoned director known for his steady hand, was brought in to bring the project to completion. This transition undoubtedly impacted the final product, adding another layer to the film’s already complex history.
The film earned $393.2 million (€366.8 million) against a budget of at least $275 million (€256.7 million), which, while a lot of money, represented underperformance in the eyes of Disney. Kennedy’s lack of regret regarding “filmmaking” could be interpreted as confidence in Howard’s ability to salvage the production, even if the core concept faced inherent challenges.
Why did Solo: A Star Wars Story fail?
Several factors likely contributed to Solo’s underperformance. The recasting of such an iconic role was always going to be a gamble. Furthermore, the behind-the-scenes turmoil with the directorial change might have affected the film’s overall cohesion. Some suggest “Star Wars fatigue” played a role, with audiences feeling oversaturated with content. Others simply didn’t feel the need to explore Solo’s backstory.
What is Kathleen Kennedy doing now?
As she prepares to step down from her role as president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy is likely focusing on ensuring a smooth handover to her successors, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. Her legacy at Lucasfilm is complex, marked by both successes and controversies. She oversaw the release of the sequel trilogy, as well as standalone films like Rogue One and Solo, and the expansion of the Star Wars universe on Disney+ with series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. As for her future plans, only time will tell what new creative paths she chooses to explore.
Kennedy’s era is coming to an end, and the future of Star Wars is about to change. Should some legends remain untouched?