Ron Howard steps in to direct Han Solo spinoff

Hollywood heavyweight Ron Howard has stepped in to helm the forthcoming Han Solo film, days after Lucasfilmcut loose original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller over "creative differences" on the anticipated Star Wars spinoff.

Howard, an Oscar-winner for A Beautiful Mind and known for credits as wide-ranging as Cocoon,Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixonand Rush, will start immediately, Lucasfilm said Thursday.

The former Andy Griffith Show andHappy Days actor-turned-filmmaker has a bit of history with Lucasfilm. He appeared in founder George Lucas's classic film American Graffiti and directed the fantasy tale Willow.

"We have a wonderful script, an incredible cast and crew, and the absolute commitment to make a great movie," said Lucasfilmpresident Kathleen Kennedy, adding that filming will resume July 10.

Disney reiterated the film's release date of May 25 next year, suggesting that at least for now the Star Warsspinoff will be completed on schedule. Representatives for the studio declined to comment.

How producers and the Directors Guild of America handle the film's directing credit will also be closely watched. DGA rules govern the crediting of directors.

Earlier this week,Kennedy announced that the studio was parting ways with Lord and Miller. The pair had been filming the untitled project in London since January 2017, with several weeks left on the shoot schedule and was believed to be three-quarters finished shooting a script by Star Warsveteran LawrenceKasdanand his son, JonKasdan.

The movie starsAlden Ehrenreich as the young space smuggler Han Solo, first introduced in Star Wars: A New Hope and played by Harrison Ford. The cast includesDonald Glover as Lando Calrissian as well as Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton.

Lord and Miller are known for smart adaptations of unlikely properties such asThe Lego Movieand 21 Jump Street.But reports have circulated that the duo, who favour improvisation and irreverent humour, clashed with Kennedy and Kasdan.

"Unfortunately, our vision andprocess weren't aligned with our partners on this project. We normally aren't fans of the phrase 'creative differences' but for once thisclichis true," the directors said in a joint statement Tuesday.

"We are really proud of the amazing and world class work of our cast and crew."

The HanSolo film is the second Star Wars anthology film after 2016'sRogue One.These titles are considered separate from the current "main trilogy," which includesThe Force Awakensand the upcoming The Last Jedi.