Harrison Ford gives verdict on new Star Wars spinoff Solo…

Aside from all the big dogs at Lucasfilm, including George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, the only other person you’d truly hope loves your Han Solo spin-off film is Harrison Ford.

The American actor played the rogue pilot in the original trilogy returning for The Force Awakens in 2015. This prequel, titled Solo, will depict the events leading up to Lucas’ 1977 original with Alden Ehrenreich playing a younger incarnation of the character.

In a tell-all interview with Variety, director Ron Howard reveals that Ford has seen the film twice and “adores” it. “I had never heard Harrison effusive about anything, and he was raving about it,“ Howard commented. ”He said, ‘Alden nailed it. He made it his own’.“

This news would have come as a sigh of relief to all following the tumultuous events which led to Howard’s employment – he replaced original filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller who were let go by Disney and ended up directing 70 per cent of the film which earned him a sole directing credit.

An anonymous source, speaking about the events leading up tot heir departure, said: “In their minds, Phil and Chris were hired to make a movie that was unexpected and would take a risk, not something that would just service the fans. They wanted it to be fresh, new, emotional, surprising and unique.

“These guys looked at Han as a maverick, so they wanted to make a movie about a maverick. But at every turn, when they went to take a risk, it was met with a no.”

Speaking about his decision to accept Kennedy’s offer to direct, Howard said: “It was more inviting for me, in a way, because it’s not a sequel. It uses a familiar character and is true to the spirit of ‘Star Wars’ movies and the galaxy, but it’s a single adventure story about this guy and the relationships that are going to shape his destiny and the challenges that are going to test him along the way.”

Solo: A Star Wars Story is released in cinemas on 24 May.