Like you, I was happy to read about Ron Howard directing the Star Wars Han Solo project.
Not only is Howard a talented director / producer (We won’t talk about the Dan Brown projects), he’s got history with Lucasfilm that I think will work to his advantage. Here’s how:
People know and love ‘American Graffiti’ but did you also know that it was Lucasfilm’s first project as a production company? The film is a classic for several reasons, but Ron Howard’s contribution gave the story an emotional weight it otherwise wouldn’t have had. Here was the kid who finally broke the ‘child actors can’t get work as adults’ curse. ‘Ronny’ Howard took his first steps toward ‘Ron’ Howard with Lucasfilm. Now, forty-four years later, Ron Howard is working on a Lucasfilm project. To me, it’s like the student coming back as the master, as a healer rather than an executioner. The circle is complete, and in a good way.
Personally, I’m happy for him. This move feels like good juju and I wish Howard, Lucasfilm and the project success.