the Extra-TerrestrialandLincoln, among many others had this stratospheric praise for Johnson.
Then Johnson came out and said it was challenging to begin writingVIIIwhileVIIwas still finishing.
This movie is going to start right were the last one left off, Johnson said.
That final scene inVII, I want to see what happens next.
You come into it with nostalgic feelings, but your job is to get beyond that very quickly.
I had a lot of fun directing him ruthlessly.
The filmmakers were asked: What does Han Solo mean to you?
I sort of relate to him.
He doesnt want to do anything hes told.
When you tell him not to do something it makes him want to do it more, Lord says.
Miller said: Hes a maverick, hes a scoundrel, hes clever, but hes not smart.
Talk then turns to cameos.
Each of the directors has tried to make background appearances in the other movies.
This is the best kept secret in Hollywood, Lord joked.
The directors said they auditioned countless actors, but Ehrenreich was the first.
Among his finalist auditions: exploring the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon set and doing a scene with Chewbacca.
Since the news was so widely known, Ehrenreich said he has only been able to respond to Congratulations!
with a point and a smile.
He showed off a photo from his mother of the old Han Solo action figure she found in storage.
You had Bossk, too.
Nice, said Miller.
But … theres more.
John Boyega joins the stage.Young Han Solo gets to meet Big Deal Finn!
Youre gonna be Han Solo, man!
he says, raising Ehrenreichs fist and clapping him on the back.
He says he doesnt know what advice to give about joining the galactic saga.
Youve got the charm thing down, Boyega says.
Look at him, hes smiling just like Han Solo.
Boyega offers assurance that Finn is out of his coma.
We thought about cutting back to him through the movie, still in the coma, Johnson joked.
They also discussedEpisode VIIInewcomer Kelly Marie Tran.
People ask, Are you really like brother and sister?
And I say, Yes, we fight all the time, Hamill says.
But Id defend her with my life.
I do drive him crazy, Fisher says.
Im just here to make sureGarygets a part, at least in the next one.
There arent enough pets in space, right?
Talk to Colin about space pets, Johnson says.
That would beColin Trevorrow, director and writer ofEpisode IX.
And thats the grand finale of Star Wars Celebration.
For more Star Wars news, follow@Breznican.
