UPDATE 2: Ron Howard took to Twitter to make a statement regarding his stepping in to finish the Han Solo film.

UPDATE 1: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has since made the following announcement regarding Howard joining the project, including a reveal of when production will resume:

“At Lucasfilm, we believe the highest goal of each film is to delight, carrying forward the spirit of the saga that George Lucas began forty years ago. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Ron Howard will step in to direct the untitled Han Solo film. We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie. Filming will resume the 10th of July.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

Earlier this week, fans were hit with the unsettling news that Han Solo spinoff directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were unceremoniously canned from the picture. While we all hate the term “creative differences,” it seems that, in this case, it was true. Not only did screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan disagree with how they made their films (more improv than by-the-book), there also seemed to be a fundamental disagreement regarding the actual character of Han Solo himself.

Despite this setback, the announcement from Lucasfilm maintained that the film would not be delayed, and would still hit its May 2018 release date. But who would hop on board a film that’s already cast and two-thirds through production, and would Lucasfilm be able to lock them down in time?

Well, it seems like Lucasfilm understood the severity of the situation, and according to THR, Ron Howard (director of such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind) has now picked up the reins from Lord and Miller, and will see the Han Solo production to its end. The official announcement is set to hit later this morning.

With Howard now at the helm, he will reportedly meet with the actors and a rattled crew, look through the footage so far, and figure out what needs to be changed, reshot, and everything in between. The film was originally scheduled for three-and-a-half more weeks of production — with an added five weeks of reshoots already built into the schedule later down the line. It’s unclear if they’ll need any more time to make this film work.

We’re not too surprised by this announcement. His name was rumored to be in the running immediately after the announcement, and in times like this, you need a steady hand to keep things going. Plus, given how long both he and Kathleen Kennedy have been in the industry, they likely have a more amenable relationship.

Are you excited to see Howard take the helm? Let us know your thoughts down below!

The Han Solo film is set to hit theaters on May 25, 2018.

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SOURCE: THR, Lucasfilm (Update)