Star Wars, like most legacy franchises, is at a crossroads — and few moments illustrate that better than the complicated legacy of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

When Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled their slate of anthology films, 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story was meant to be a sure thing: an origin story for one of the franchise's most beloved characters, Harrison Ford's Han Solo. Even with a directing team fresh off The Lego Movie (2014) and 21 Jump Street (2012) at the helm, the film became a cautionary tale that still shapes how Lucasfilm approaches spinoffs today.

Behind-the-Scenes Chaos Derailed the Production

The trouble began with a creative clash between then-Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller — the duo behind this year's critical and commercial hit, Project Hail Mary (2026). That conflict ended with Lord and Miller's departure, and Ron Howard stepping in to finish production and oversee extensive reshoots.

The fallout extended well beyond the director's chair. The reshoots caused the budget to balloon to around $365 million, while the film netted just $393 million at the global box office — making it one of the biggest box office disappointments in Star Wars history. Adding to the challenge, Solo arrived just months after Rian Johnson's franchise-altering Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017), during the sequel trilogy's billion-dollar cinematic run (2015–2019).

The #MakeSolo2Happen Movement Has Lost Steam

Every May, on the anniversary of Solo's release, a pocket of Star Wars fans still take to social media demanding a sequel under the hashtag #MakeSolo2Happen. That campaign has lost momentum over the years, however, with Lucasfilm showing no indication that a follow-up is on the way.

Alden Ehrenreich Isn't Counting on a Comeback

Asked directly about the prospect of reprising Han Solo, Ehrenreich offered little encouragement. In an interview with IndieWire, the actor responded with a brief and blunt answer: