10 Reasons Disney Needs To Make Solo 2 Happen

Fans were not just excited about the prospect of Star Wars Stories for the -- ahem -- stories they would explore, but also because a spin-off series could (in theory) allow for Star Wars movies to stray from the sci-fi-come-fantasy-come-soap-opera formula established by the Skywalker Saga and explore different genres, a la the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

At least, that was the idea, but tonally Rogue One and Solo scarcely differ from the other Disney Star Wars movies, with Solo in particular feeling as breezy as The Force Awakens.

Star Wars' second live action spin off ended up feeling less like the Western set in space that fans were expecting and more like any other paint by numbers late 2010s blockbuster, new director Ron Howard sticking to the tried-and-tested Disney Star Wars formula of spectacle, shallow humour, and an underbelly of cheesy themes.

Disney boycotting aside, Solo's box officer performance could perhaps be attributed to its paint by numbers approach, Howard's conventional Hollywood take stamping out any individuality and spontaneity original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller's quasi-improvised humour might have injected into the movie. Although it was still enjoyable, Solo ended up being more rote than unique.

Given Solo's reception, Disney might want to double back on their decision, and take another shot at the sheer humour of Lord and Miller. While comedy might be a genre not well suited for a character as cynical and down-to-earth as Han, a tonal side-step could revitalise the stale franchise.