Ron Howard's latest set photos from the young Han Solo movie depict a scene detailing "desperate and dangerous times," offering some insight into possible themes the film will explore. Like the first Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One, Howard's entry into the franchise is a prequel set in the days before the original trilogy. As many fans know, prior to joining the Rebellion, Han was a smuggler in the criminal underworld, keeping some unsavory company during his numerous adventures. It's widely expected this spinoff film will provide viewers with a concrete look at this corner of the universe, fleshing out aspects that were only alluded to in previous movies.

Since Han Solo is set during the heyday of the Empire (which is in the film), it will be interesting to see how their role influences the plot. As the galaxy's ruling government, the Empire had no love for those who broke the law and brought swift justice to any felons caught in the act. Fans might recall even Han dropped his shipment for Jabba the Hutt when he encountered an Imperial cruiser. While it's unlikely the Empire are the main antagonists of Han Solo, their presence should be felt in some capacity throughout, if Howard's latest teases are any indication.

Taking to his Instagram and Twitter accounts, Howard shared two new images from behind-the-scenes with nearly identical captions about the scene in question. The photos themselves are a little vague, but they do showcase a location that's rundown and appears to be in ruins. One of the photos includes an explosion in the background, suggesting things definitely are not peaceful at this point in time. You can check out both in the space below:

Shooting a scene about desperate and dangerous times in the Galaxy pic.twitter.com/AtNZPOkzFO— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) September 23, 2017

The director's mentioning of "desperate and dangerous times" could be interpreted as the citizens of the galaxy trying to adapt to life under the Imperial regime. Looking to extend their reach to even some of the most remote worlds, the Empire conducted operations on Outer Rim planets like Kessel (known for its spice), which would certainly make things difficult for people like Han and Lando Calrissian. It's bad enough that smugglers and others of questionable ethics have to stay on the good side of mob bosses such as Jabba in order to survive. The Empire (with their enforcer Darth Vader always looming in the shadows) presents a whole other kind of problem to deal with. Depending on the crime, the accused could be executed on site, raising the stakes of an already risky lifestyle. Han will become entangled with the Imperials at some point in the film, rescuing Chewbacca from captivity.

One of the biggest takeaways from these pictures is how striking the imagery is. Han Solo's cinematographer is Bradford Young, the Oscar-nominated director of photography of Arrival. He is known for crafting beautiful visuals that look outstanding on the big screen, and his trip to the galaxy far, far away should be no different. After Rogue One raised the bar for Star Wars aesthetics, Han Solo could one-up Gareth Edwards' film and set a new standard for future entries to follow.

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Source: Ron Howard [2]