This week, the biggest story in the movie world became Phil Lord and Chris Miller‘s ousting from Disney‘s untitled Han Solo movie, and it’s going to be a story that the industry, in particular, is going to pay close attention to. Lord and Miller’s exit from the blockbuster movie, that came with weeks left of filming, plus reshoots scheduled for this summer, is rare and nearly unprecedented. Even on the most contentious of projects, filmmakers usually struggle through, and then move on, but the picture painted around ‘Han Solo’ was one of the severe creative clashes between Lord and Miller, and screenwriter/producer Lawrence Kasdan and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy. However, even with Lord and Miller off the set, there’s a whole sea of issues to navigate.
First and foremost, there’s a scenario where when we see the Han Solo film next summer, it’ll still have the credit: Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. How and where they get credited on the film, will depend on how much work was done, and how the Directors’ Guild Of America rules on the matter. Another issue to be sorted is backend profits based on the success of the movie. Again, if it’s in Lord and Miller’s contracts, Disney may be bound by it, though there is some suggestion that the studio could’ve given them a lump sum payment as part of their exit (and it should be noted, the joint statements released by Lord and Miller and the studio at least suggests some level of amicability).
Meanwhile, there’s still the question of who will take on the gig — Ron Howard is the reported frontrunner — and how they will be credited. However, one name you strike off the contenders’ list for the director’s chair is Lawrence Kasdan, as DGA rules state that a director cannot be replaced by a producer working on the same film.
As for what Lord and Miller will do next, I’d guess they’re going to lay low for a while. However, last fall when Rick Famuyiwa excited DC Films‘ “The Flash,“ Lord and Miller took a meeting about a potentially directing the superhero film. It’s not completely surprising given that Lord and Miller wrote an early treatment for the movie back in 2015, but given we’re only hearing it about now, I’d imagine whatever talks took place didn’t get too serious. However, with Lord and Miller’s schedule now free and open, perhaps Geoff Johns will give them a ring…. [The Wrap]
