Solo's Director Change Isn't Necessarily A Bad Thing

Partway through production, Solo was rocked by a further controversy; Justice League.

But that's too simplistic a view. The full story will probably never be known, but it seems the problems were actually with Lord and Miller (if not their fault); this time around, the studio got it right. The directors were used to a far more freestyle way of filmmaking, one that focused in on improv and "getting it in the edit". They set about creating what's been described as a sort of "screwball comedy," albeit one set in the Star Wars galaxy. StarWarsNewsNet even reported rumors that the directors introduced some sort of continuity error, one that would drive the fans crazy, and wouldn't budge on it.

RELATED: Solo's New Millennium Falcon Design Creates A Bizarre Plot Hole

A recent insider on Solo's director troubles gave a hint of just how chaotic Lord and Miller's production was. Vulture's source described the two directors as essentially "out of control," asking for between 25 and 30 retakes of a single scene without telling the actors what they wanted to see change. But even that damning report (which, while surely from a verified source, makes some startling and unlikely claims) represents more poor planning on all parties' sides than it does anything truly wrong. Should Lord and Miller have been hired in the first place?

With that in mind, we're left with the impression that Kennedy and Lucasfilm made a bold but necessary decision to redo the film with Ron Howard. It wasn't a studio changing their vision or enforcing last-minute adjustments on a filmmaker. In fact, it was the opposite: an attempt to course correct before it was too late. Whether it is or not is yet to be seen, but it's not a cut-and-dry disaster.

What Alden Ehrenreich's Acting Coach Really Means

Now let's focus on another specific issue: the acting coach. Lucasfilm insiders had continually stressed that Kennedy was delighted with her Solo. Then, in June 2017, the internet was rocked with the news that Lucasfilm had actually hired an acting coach for Ehrenreich. For many Star Wars fans, this was the final straw; they'd cast a Han who couldn't be Han.

But it's important to place this news in the context of an initially-chaotic production. Just what kind of performance were Lord and Miller expecting from Ehrenreich in the first place? One source claimed that they wanted something that was "oddly comparable to Jim Carrey's... in Ace Ventura at times". Even if it wasn't quite that zany, the fact remains that any actor will lose confidence when going through 30 reshoots. Furthermore, it's entirely possible the acting coach helped Ehrenreich to realize that he wasn't the source of the problem, causing him to raise the issue with Lucasfilm's producers (something that is also rumored). Whatever the case may be, every inside has stressed that the acting coach transformed Ehrenreich's performance.

Related: Han Solo: The DGA Rule That Explains Lord and Miller's Mid-Production Firing

It's generally believed that Ron Howard reshot nearly all of Solo, for twice the budget. If that's the case, the bulk of Solo's footage was filmed after Ehrenreich's time with the acting coach. Like with the directors, any performance issues should be well and truly resolved.

Solo Has A Lot Going For It

It's important to that this troubled production actually has a lot working in its favor. One of the most important assets is clearly the script. Scriptwriter Lawrence Kasdan is the co-writer of The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Howard has reportedly shot the script faithfully.

Ron Howard, of course, is another major asset. He's one of the most respected names in Hollywood, a workmanlike director who excels at motivating his cast and crew. Howard's experience includes classics like set photos on social media, attempting to get the conversation back on track.

And whatever doubts some fans may have over Ehrenreich, the reality is that recruiting Paul Bettany to play a crime boss who may well turn out to be Solo's main villain.

Read More: Wait, Who Exactly Is Solo's Villain?

The Trailers Have Sold Something Exciting

And now we get to something that makes everything before almost moot: the trailers have promised something good, a film that's a perfect blend of something old, and something new. All the traditional Star Wars concepts are in play, along with countless elements from the old Expanded Universe; the second trailer even introduced a character from the Star Wars Holiday Special. The trailers have made Solo feel like Kasdan's love-letter to the Star Wars franchise, and it's easy to understand why Lucasfilm was so protective of the script.

But Solo is no mere nostalgia vehicle; in Solo, everything old is young again, subtly changed and transformed. The trailer shows Firefly.

Only one thing about the trailers has been worthy of controversy; their delay. It's true that marketing for Solo has been strangely sluggish, with Lucasfilm holding off on trailers till far later than fans had expected. But that decision was actually easy to understand; Lucasfilm were releasing Solo just a handful of months after The Last Jedi. They're not Marvel Studios, where releasing two films in such swift succession is the norm, so chose to concentrate their marketing on one film at a time, rather than risk diluting the impact of the trailers.

When Lucasfilm did choose to fire the gun on Solo's marketing, it was with an effective double-tap - a TV spot at the Super Bowl followed by a full trailer. Far from displaying a lack of confidence in the film, this was actually a smart marketing approach. Again, the reality has been missed in the face of the online narrative.

Read More: Solo's Trailer Delay Was Genius

Here's the thing about internet fashions; all too often, they have no basis in reality. A narrative has set in that Solo is a disaster waiting to happen, a film that's destined for poor reviews and low box office figures. The reality, though, is that Lucasfilm still have a potential winner on their hands; right now, all we've really seen of the finished movie are a couple of trailers and some promotional photos. It's far too soon to give up on the next Star Wars movie.

MORE: Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer Breakdown Secrets & Things You Missed