Han Solo Spinoff

I don't know much about Lord and Miller's resume beyond the Lego movie but I think they have a shot at capturing a character that needs to be a scoundrel but still a hero. My concern with them is how they will incorporate humor.

Kasdan has been apart of Star Wars a long time so this makes me pretty happy.

My fears as already stated is that the humor will ruin the tone. My hope that they show a compelling story that brings a young man into his own as a real scoundrel.

Bad examples of trying to recast iconic characters Star Trek Nemesis. The Pircard clone sucked. Good example there really isn't anything better than Ewan McGreggors Obi-Wan. Considered one of the best points of the PT he did a great job of capturing the character at a young age. Say what you want about the failures of the recent hobbit movies Martin Freeman did a great job of delivering a younger version of the Bilbo we met in LOTR.

I like the idea sadly ruining this idea is terribly easy. Playing too much a caricature of Han Solo. Getting the humor wrong. Relying on gimmic over story. Relying on the Han you already know and not show casing how a young man BECOMES Han.

 

Thanks you to Funkmaster @Rebo for your very clear-headed response, and for getting us back on track! I don't think I'm really "for" or "against" this movie, so I'll lend a hand and expand on some of your questions to help explain what I'm thinking.

Unfortunately I never got around to watching the Lego Movie, but it's been in my personal queue for a while. I wouldn't call the two Jump Street flicks great movies, but did I enjoy the hell outta 'em? I sure did! I think this directing team has a knack for action as much as character interactions/plot. My feeling is that establishing the right tone is going to be just as important as getting the character right in this movie. I don't think anyone wants to see a Dark Knight-style Han movie. Perhaps a slightly more serious Guardians of the Galaxy is in the ballpark? I think these two guys have the chops to get it right.

Not really from me. Kasdan being on board is one of the things that gives me hope. He knows the characters (as well as the touches that Ford added himself), and he knows how to write a rollicking adventure flick with some depth.

Like I alluded to in a previous post, I'm going to reserve my judgement on a solo-Solo (hehehe) film until they're a bit further along. Do I think there's potential for it to crash and burn? Yes, and that freaks me out the most I think. Han is my favorite character by a pretty wide margin, and seeing a bad Han movie with the wrong tone or characterization would hurt like hell. But on the flip-side, a great movie that adds depth and gives a history to my favorite character excites me to no end. I've got the same fears as all of you, I promise. That said, I don't want to write it off immediately until we get some idea of where they're going with it.

I think those are pretty great examples--one in particular: Ewan as young Obi Wan in the prequels. As much as Sir Alec did to establish the character and how many missteps the prequels made, when I think of Obi Wan, I can't help but think of Ewan. I think it's because despite poor direction and having to deliver some incredibly leaden dialog, he seemed to really enjoy playing him (and would probably be willing to put the robes back on and pick up the lightsaber again). Now, I understand that comparing Sir Alec's small (but significant) role to someone with Han's import and screen time is apples and oranges, but I think it's still a hopeful precedent.

To reiterate, I'm just as scared as anyone else that this film could be a mess. But in order to save myself from stressing myself too much, I'm choosing to try to be as hopeful as possible that the right people will be involved to make a great movie. That's all I want really.

EDIT!

@Pastor Barndog, it seems you basically echoed my sentiments exactly much more succinctly while I wrote this opus Didn't mean to be redundant.

 

Some of them are, what's your point? People can be rubbed the wrong way all they want, many of them have said the same thing about me and have went into personal attacks, rather than just criticize the ideas, which is entirely what I've done, aside from the times in which I've had to defend myself from PERSONAL attacks.

They can get over it if their jimmies are rustled....of the two of us with rustled jimmies, only one of us is trying to censor the other, and it ain't me.

Even though that's not what I have used it for, that's part of exactly what it means. Freedom of speech isn't there so people can kiss up to each other and talk about the weather all day. It's there to protect that which is considered verbally as well as artistically offensive by others from physical retaliation of any kind.

I'm not bothered by responses/replies, other interactions/arguments.....I'm bothered by "hey you better not have that opinion because it might upset some other people and we'll get you in trouble and not allow you to talk anymore because we don't like what you have to say!". I haven't done anything wrong, merely stated how dumb and wrong I think some ideas are for a movie and how I don't "get" the people who approve of them in the slightest.

The oppression of the sith will never return.

 

I've been thinking, I wonder if they'll higher Harrison Ford in some sort of executive role for the film. Maybe he will/has helped in the casting process and will work with the actor during filming.

 

Totally agree--and you're right, the Jumpstreets were straight-up action comedies, and pretty adult ones at that. So my feeling is that if these two guys can switch gears from making fun, smart (if a bit too frenetic) family fare to dumb, fun adult comedies, I think they probably have the chops to surprise us in a good way. I think you were right on when you mentioned it needs to be the mirror of Guardians on the drama side of the comedy-drama line.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that's a bit like how Ford fell into the role in the first place. He helped run lines in the casting the other roles, and Lucas liked it enough to just give him the Han part.

 

So its okay if you rub people the wrong way but not when people respond. Gotcha.

As for people censoring you that isn't my call. But you did join a site which expects people to not insult and demean each other. There are places you can freely go and be far more offensive if that is your goal.

 

No, you obviously don't "got me". You need to read what I wrote again and respond to what I actually said, not what you think you saw, but since you likely will not, allow me to reiterate:

Response is fine. Censorship is not.

True, but the only time in which I've insulted another poster directly is when that one was attacking me personally. It's all documented in the thread here for those with an objective mind to review, yet the only thing that was called out for being insulting by the mods was my response to someone being smug and insulting me personally.

 

I am sorry I guess I took all the no true fan can disagree, or Disney yes men comments to be rather insulting. Apparently you believe insults only count if you aim them at individuals. I guess I am not following you.

So young Han Solo . . . does he shoot first naturally or does he need to learn the hard way?

 

Ah the great psychological question (taking an online class on this now). Is it in his genes or is it an environmental response. The answer is almost always a combination of both.

 

I never said that, even if I think it on certain things.

Personal attacks are the only kind of insults that should be called into question. I can say an idea is dumb and that I think the people that support it are dumb for doing so all I like, it's when I start attacking a fellow poster over their posting style, username, and that they're dumb in general that it becomes a personal attack.

I don't really think it needs to be explained. I think it's pretty self explanatory: Han lived in a rough world and killed a guy who was going to kill him or take him hostage. I'd have done the same thing and don't blame him. I don't need a movie explaining how many times he was shot and/or shot at before he just decided he'd like to be the one to shoot instead being hurt or dead. We're not supposed to like Han all that much at first....he's supposed to come off as kind of a selfish jerk in Luke's perspective. Showing the secret origin of why he shoots only/"first" invokes more empathy than is already needed, he has a gun on him and shot the guy. Kill or be killed. I don't think there's much more empathy/in depth backstory needed in that scene that that.

 

It occurs to me that a big part of the reason I chafe at the idea of someone new playing the lead in a Han Solo movie is that Harrison Ford was never even the lead in a Han Solo. He was a huge part of the OT, obviously, but he was always secondary to Luke. Granted this is purely an emotional response on my part, but I just don't like the idea. It feels like, in that way, they are elevating the new actors above Harrison Ford when it comes to the role. It just feels wrong. It may not be, but it feels insulting.

 

If we are talking NEED as it pertains to film we may as well stop now beginning to end it is the definition of unnecessary. I think more adventures of Han Solo could be fun and could be great films. I think it is strange that Lucas can create SW to mimic old adventure serials but when people talk about additional adventures it is not needed and somehow out of place. I have always wanted to see more Han Solo.

--- Double Post Merged, Jul 10, 2015, Original Post Date: Jul 10, 2015 ---

I kinda understand that. Watching the PT the major element I felt was missing was that sort of Han Solo type character. I think if they had put another character with personality that was a foil to the rigid politicians and monks it could have really improved things. The idea of seeing the early adventures of Han I am hoping it gets into the aspects of the OT we only see as background.

 

I'll give you that Han appears that way when we first meet him, but as we see his story unfold, we learn that there's a lot more to him than a cold-hearted scoundrel. Rather than ask about the merits of showing it in a film, I'm just curious how you think he came to be the pirate we get introduced to in the cantina? Knowing what we know about Han's later actions, how did hefind himself so hardened to start? What led a man who really does have the capacity to be a hero to shy away from heroism? Again, not asking you to be for or against a film, just asking to play a little make-believe

Even though it's pretty unlikely for a lot of reasons, how would you feel about a stand-alone Solo film starring Ford in either the post ROTJ era or the ST era?

 

I would be skeptical that Ford could carry the lead in an action movie at his age, just as I was for Indy 4 - but I'd like the idea better than what we're getting.

 

I'm with ya there! That was biggest of the "lot of reasons" I mentioned. I think we can all agree that in a perfect world, if we all had our druthers, we would all prefer a Ford-starring Han movie.

 

I think everyone would love to see more Han Solo. But Han Solo is Harrison Ford. And if you don't agree with that, then that is where I'm afraid we part ways as Star Wars "fans". Simple as that.

--- Double Post Merged, Jul 10, 2015, Original Post Date: Jul 10, 2015 ---

We get to know Han a bit but not his "origin story" so much as we watch his development as a character over the arc of the films. His high school years weren't what mattered, and are likely not as interesting as what we got in the films.

Umm....why? I dunno...why does it matter "how I think he came to be"? I'm not the writer.

Why do you assume he was "hardened"? Because he killed a guy trying to kill him or because he smuggled things deemed illegal by a tyrannical empire?

I think Han was heroic in his own right, but he looked out for himself like a lot of people in the Cantina, and that's just who he was.

Yeah, well it's very obvious you're on the pro side of this film, and what you're asking me sounds like a backdoor attempt to get me on board with a prequel/spinoff idea; I share how I think he came to be, then you say "a-ha! Now what if they just did that in a movie?".... not going to happen.

 

Allow me to disagree here. It appears that we have seen it from a different point of view. I've always seen the OT to be about Luke AND Han as equal leads with Leia being also lead bud slightly behind. Main heroes without discussion, no "primary" and "secondary".