Star Wars: Han Solo - 9 Big Implications Of Lord & Miller's Firing

3. The Possible Replacements

There isn't a huge amount of time for Lucasfilm to turn this around, especially if they do want to make that May 25 release date.

It means we're unlikely to see another director with their own singular vision come in, but rather a steady pair of hands who can work to Lucasfilm's outline, much like Gilroy on Rogue One.

According to THR, there are three names in the mix: Ron Howard, who is apparently the frontrunner; Joe Johnston; and Lawrence Kasdan himself. All decent options, if not as exciting as those who've just left.

Howard is a veteran filmmaker who should be a solid fill-in, while Johnston has experience with big movies - he directed Captain America: The First Avenger - and his earliest movie work was on Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, as an effects artist and art director.

Kasdan is more well-known as a writer, though he does have some directing experience and certainly knows his way around a Star Wars set. However, he's already writing the movie, and DGA rules prohibit someone involved with a film taking over as a director, unless it's as a short-term contingency.