When Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story was first announced, a few fans were underwhelmed, to say the least. These same individuals were subsequently outraged to learn the film’s main protagonist, Han Solo, had been recast. This was, of course, due to the advanced age of the character’s original portrayer, Harrison Ford.
It’s understandable that some people are upset Ford won’t be playing their favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder in Solo. After all, no one else has ever touched the role in live-action before and fans have become accustomed to the original actor’s mannerisms and vocal tone; these are synonymous with Han Solo and cannot be replaced. Folks against the spinoff justify themselves by saying they already met young Han in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, thus the new Anthology flick is redundant.
Despite fan negativity though, the new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich, seems to be doing a fantastic job with the beloved role. People resistant to any sort of change in the Star Wars saga should rest easy knowing he’s taken advice straight from Ford to heart, and while he’s decided not to copy the actor’s performance, he has earned Ford’s seal of approval.
Speaking to Variety, Solo director Ron Howard quoted the legendary actor as saying the following: “Alden nailed it. He made it his own.” Howard also told the outlet that Ford has rarely been as direct with something as he has his love of Solo.
It’s common knowledge that Harrison has grown tired of Han, but it speaks volumes about his successor’s performance in the role if it can move the man responsible for creating the character we all adore today. Alden Ehrenreich and Solo in general have also earned the praise of Billy Dee Williams (the original Lando Calrissian) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), so right now, things are looking good for the pic.
Perhaps it’s time people give the new Han and Solo: A Star Wars Story a chance, then, when they fly into theaters this Friday, May 25th.