It was never going to be easy. Replacing Harrison Ford is basically a suicide mission in the acting world. When Disney announced they were making Solo: A Star Wars Story, the collective internet groaned. Why? Because nobody asked for it. We already knew Han Solo was a scoundrel with a heart of gold. We knew he made the Kessel Run. Seeing it felt like checking off a grocery list rather than embarking on a new adventure.
But then something weird happened. People actually watched it.
Years later, the conversation around this movie has shifted from "the first Star Wars flop" to "wait, was this actually a secret banger?" It’s a space western that trades destiny and Force-prophecies for thermal detonators and gambling debts. If you haven't revisited it lately, you've probably forgotten just how much fun it is.
The Chaos Behind the Scenes of Solo: A Star Wars Story
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the disaster on set. Honestly, it's a miracle the film is even coherent. Originally, Phil Lord and Chris Miller—the geniuses behind The LEGO Movie—were in the director's chairs. They wanted a loose, improvisational comedy. They wanted Han Solo to be a bit of a goof.
Lucasfilm didn't.
Four months into shooting, the duo was fired. Kathleen Kennedy and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan reportedly weren't fans of the constant riffing. They wanted the script followed. Enter Ron Howard. He’s the ultimate "safe pair of hands" in Hollywood. Howard ended up reshooting roughly 80% of the film.
Think about that.
That is an insane amount of work to do on the fly. It also doubled the budget to somewhere north of $250 million. By the time it hit theaters in May 2018, the movie was already drowning in bad press and "production trouble" headlines. It was a PR nightmare.
Why the Box Office Actually Tanked
People blame "Star Wars fatigue," but that’s sorta simplistic. It was more about timing. Disney released this movie only five months after The Last Jedi, which had already polarized the fanbase. Plus, it opened right between Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2.
Talk about a crowded room.
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Fans were also wary of Alden Ehrenreich. Taking over for Ford is a heavy lift. Early rumors suggested the studio had to hire an acting coach for him, which made everyone nervous. In reality, Ehrenreich is great. He doesn't do a Harrison Ford impression; he captures the vibe of a guy who thinks he’s much cooler than he actually is. That’s the core of Han Solo. He’s a loser who wins by accident.
Breaking Down the Kessel Run and Other Lore
We finally got to see the Kessel Run. For decades, fans argued over whether Han was just lying about "12 parsecs" because a parsec is a unit of distance, not time. The movie actually fixes this. It turns the Kessel Run into a shortcut through a gravity well. It’s clever. It makes Han look like a pilot who knows how to cheat physics, which is exactly who he should be.
The movie is packed with these little nods:
- The Dice: We see where those iconic gold dice came from (a gift to Qi'ra).
- The Name: We find out "Solo" isn't even his real last name—it was given to him by an Imperial recruitment officer because he was alone.
- The Blaster: Beckett (Woody Harrelson) literally tosses him the parts for his DL-44.
- Maul: That holographic cameo at the end? It blew minds. Seeing Ray Park return as a crime lord linked the movie to The Clone Wars in a way that felt huge.
The Donald Glover Factor
Can we talk about Lando? Donald Glover didn't just play Lando Calrissian; he became him. The capes, the swagger, the "Lando Chronicles" recordings—he stole every single scene. The chemistry between him and his droid L3-37 (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) was surprisingly emotional. L3 is a revolutionary who wants droid rights, and her eventual "death" and upload into the Millennium Falcon’s computer explains why the ship is so temperamental in the original trilogy.
It's a dark twist that actually adds weight to the later films.
Is a Sequel Ever Coming?
This is the big question. Fans have been tweeting #MakeSolo2Happen for years. As of early 2026, a direct theatrical sequel looks unlikely. The first one just didn't make enough money to justify a $200 million follow-up. However, the story isn't dead.
Kathleen Kennedy has mentioned that the Lando project is "still alive" in development, likely with Donald Glover and his brother Stephen writing. There’s also the new Maul: Shadow Lord series rumored for Disney+, which would theoretically pick up the Crimson Dawn storyline that Solo left hanging.
Honestly, the "Anthology" format was a good idea. It's just a shame Solo became the sacrificial lamb that ended it. Because of this movie's performance, Lucasfilm pivoted hard toward TV shows like The Mandalorian and Andor.
What You Should Do Now
If you skipped Solo: A Star Wars Story because of the drama or the reviews, go watch it tonight. It’s a high-speed heist movie that doesn't care about Jedi or Sith. It's just about a guy, a Wookiee, and a very fast ship.
Next Steps for the Solo Fan:
- Watch the Deleted Scenes: There’s a great sequence involving Han as an Imperial pilot that explains his "expulsion" much better than the theatrical cut.
- Read "Most Wanted": It’s a YA novel by Rae Carson that covers Han and Qi’ra’s earlier days on Corellia. It adds a lot of context to their relationship.
- Track the Lando News: Keep an eye on Disney+ announcements for 2026; that’s where the "Solo-verse" is most likely to continue.
The movie isn't perfect, but it’s got heart. It’s a reminder that the Star Wars galaxy is a big, dirty, fun place even when there isn't a lightsaber in sight.