Solo: A Star Wars Story actor shares new details about the troubled production

Solo: A Star Wars Story actor shares new details about the troubled production

0 comments 📅26 March 2018, 16:49

An anonymous actor has spilled the beans on Solo: A Star Wars Story, talking about “scene-by-scene” reshoots, saying Alden Ehrenreich needed the help of an acting coach and that the production was “disorganized and chaotic” at times.

According to the actor who worked on the film under co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller before they exited the project, the two directors were not a great match for Solo from the start, having worked more on comedies than the big budget projects of Lucasfilm. The actor, who spoke to New York Magazine‘s film and TV channel Vulture on the condition that their identity not be revealed, cited a big difference between the efficiency of Lord and Miller and Ron Howard — who took over the director’s chair after the duo’s exit.

Lord and Miller wanted 30 takes of a given scene, the actor said, “seemingly unsure of what they wanted other than a delivery ‘different’ from the last.” Howard, however, just needed two or three, according to the actor, and worked “really fast” and “took control” immediately.

“Phil and Chris are good directors, but they weren’t prepared for Star Wars,” the actor said. “After the 25th take, the actors are looking at each other like, ‘This is getting weird.’ [Lord and Miller] seemed a bit out of control. They definitely felt the pressure; with one of these movies, there are so many people on top of you all the time. The first assistant director was really experienced and had to step in to help them direct a lot of scenes.”

According to the insider, additional photography on Solo was a “scene-by-scene” do-over of things that have previously been shot, unlike with Rogue One, when Tony Gilroy wrote new dialogue and new scenes were shot. “It’s exactly the same script. They’re filming exactly the same things. There’s nothing new. [Lord and Miller] used whole sets. But Ron is just using parts from those sets. I guess they’re not shooting wide angle. Maybe to save money.”

Last year, reports surfaced that Lucasfilm was displeased with the performance of the project’s leading man, Alden Ehrenreich, as Han Solo. Reports also said the company decided to hire an acting coach for the actor. The actor said that the hiring of an acting coach made a big difference in Ehrenreich’s performance.

“Trying to mimic Harrison Ford is really tough,” the actor said. “Lucasfilm wanted something very specific: copying someone else. Alden’s not a bad actor — just not good enough.”

The actor also said that many of the film’s smaller actors learned that Lord and Miller had been fired from the production through online reports. Lastly, the insider revealed that there was a lot of pressure to make this film better after Star Wars: The Last Jedi didn’t “make as much money as expected.” He added: “If they want to keep making ‘Star Wars’ movies, it has to be good.”

The movie has been plagued with problems – and less-than-positive press – more or less from the very beginning. From the much publicized departure of the original directors, to Ehrenreich’s acting, then the reshoots, leaked pics of the LEGO sets, then the lack of a trailer and even the movie posters were plagiarized.

Lord and Miller said last week that they decided not to challenge Howard on a “directed by” credit on Solo, but rather took on executive producer credits.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is set to hit theaters May 25.

Related stories
• 
Disney accused of plagiarizing its Solo posters
 Solo: A Star Wars Story secures its spot in the space opera’s timeline
 Solo trailer recut to the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage
 LEGO unveils Kessel Run Millennium Falcon set from Solo: A Star Wars Story
 Solo, second trailer arrives

 

No Comments

No Comments Yet!

You can be first one to write a comment

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.