10 Directors Who Said NO To Star Wars
3. Ron Howard
Just like Irvin Kershner, Ron Howard would actually add a Star Wars movie to his CV during his career. But there was also a point there when he didn't want to get involved with the galaxy far, far away.
Back before George Lucas decided to direct all three of his prequels, he actually had a conversation with the Willow and Apollo 13 director about him helming Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Said casual chat went down in a car park, according to Howard (via Total Film/Metro), who clarified that he didn't read a script or really think about whether it was something he wanted to do. After being asked, he just immediately felt like it was something that Lucas himself should direct.
Howard would also reveal on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via THR) that "nobody wanted to follow that act I don’t think at that point. That was an honor, but it would’ve been just too daunting.”
As the years rolled by and different creators stepped in to do their own thing within the Star Wars universe, though, Howard became less intimidated by the whole idea and was happy to step in to replace Phil Lord and Christopher Miller after they left Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Howard wasn't the only person Lucas approached about being his Phantom director, though...