When Ron Howard stepped in to direct Solo: A Star Wars Story for Lucasfilm, he got one simple but powerful piece of guidance from the man who started it all… George Lucas.
Speaking with Vulture, Howard shared:
“I talked to him once early, when I was just thinking about doing it. He wasn’t active on the films, but he said, ‘Just don’t forget – it’s for 12-year-old boys.'”
That one piece of advice shaped Howard’s approach to Solo, grounding it in the kind of adventurous spirit and youthful energy that defines the Star Wars legacy.
Solo was released in 2018 and it explored the origin of Han Solo and Chewbacca, diving into how they met and their first major heist together, set a decade before A New Hope. Alden Ehrenreich took on the iconic role of Han Solo, joined by Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, with a cast that also included Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandiwe Newton, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
I loved this movie and thought that is gave us a great Star Wars adventure! I was happy with what Howard did with the film, and I would’ve liked to see the story continue with a sequel.
Despite the star power and behind-the-scenes effort, the movie received a lukewarm response. It holds a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes and reportedly lost around $76 million at the box office.
Still, Howard’s perspective on the film remains clear-eyed and rooted in Lucas’ advice. For him, it wasn’t about ego or auteurship. It was about making a Star Wars film that stayed true to its core audience, the wide-eyed young fans ready for adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The saga continues next with The Mandalorian & Grogu, hitting theaters on May 22, 2026.