Star Wars Han Solo film loses directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are no longer directing the Star Wars anthology movie about the adventures of young Han Solo. Lucasfilm announced today that the untitled Han Solo film “will move forward with a directorial change,” meaning Lord and Miller are being replaced.

“Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are talented filmmakers who have assembled an incredible cast and crew, but it’s become clear that we had different creative visions on this film, and we’ve decided to part ways,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, in a statement posted to the official Star Wars website. “A new director will be announced soon.”

Lord and Miller said in a shared statement that creative differences led to the pair leaving the project.

“Unfortunately, our vision and process weren’t aligned with our partners on this project,” Lord and Miller said. “We normally aren’t fans of the phrase ‘creative differences’ but for once this cliché is true. We are really proud of the amazing and world-class work of our cast and crew.”

Lucasfilm said it’s sticking to the Han Solo movie’s originally planned May 2018 release.

Lord and Miller, who helmed well-received comedies 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie, were announced as directors in the summer of 2015. Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark, wrote the film's screenplay with his son, Jon Kasdan. The Han Solo movie will focus on “how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley,” according to Lucasfilm.

The Han Solo film started shooting in January. A photo of the cast and the movie’s former directors was published in February, when things appeared somewhat rosier for the project. Reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter indicate there are still several weeks of filming and reshoots planned.

This is the second time that a director announced to helm to one of the Star Wars anthology films has left the project. Director Josh Trank was originally attached to direct an unannounced Star Wars film, but left before production began.

The Han Solo stand-alone Star Wars film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, as well as Emilia Clarke, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Woody Harrelson.