8 Upcoming Movies That Have Sparked Massive Controversy
6. Solo: A Star Wars Story
Release Date: 25 May 2018
The Controversy: Solo: A Star Wars Story (as well as Lucasfilm and its president, Kathleen Kennedy) came under fire in summer 2017 when then-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were suddenly removed from the project.
The movie had almost finished filming when the pair were unceremoniously fired, their higher-ups apparently not happy with the film they'd been making. Some people supported the directors and claimed Lucasfilm should have let them make the movie they envisioned, while others appreciated the firing and encouraged the studio to course-correct, whatever the cost.
This aside, the film has been mired in hate and backlash ever since it was announced. Many die-hard fans opposed a project that could - for them, at least - ruin a beloved hero, with Solo possibly demystifying a character who's partly appealing because of his roguish, unpredictable nature.
After Lord and Miller were fired, Ron Howard was brought on-board and has been quietly making the film since, but since some fans were only excited about the project because of the former two directors (and their style), nobody could fill the gap they created with their departure.
And though the movie will probably be fine and all, everything we've heard about it indicates that Lucasfilm is playing this one safe. Lord and Miller were a risky - but exciting - bet, while Howard is a careful and steady one, so it's understandable that some people would be against the notion of a by-the-numbers Star Wars flick, while some people will appreciate the familiarity that will bring.