Solo: A Star Wars Story co-writer Jonathan Kasdan admits he was "skeptical" of the film's prospects before he started working on the script with his father, Lawrence Kasdan. When Lucasfilm officially announced the spinoff in 2015, it was unquestionably the Disney Star Wars movie fans had the most reservations about. Not only are prequels tough nuts to crack (something this particular franchise knows all too well), many thought it was an impossible task to find an actor who could take the torch from Harrison Ford and deliver a compelling performance as the smuggler.
While Solo is failing to find traction at the box office, it isn't because the film is of low quality. The general consensus is that director Ron Howard delivered an entertaining heist adventure through the galaxy far, far away, and star Alden Ehrenreich's turn as Han is considered to be one of Solo's strongest attributes. But there was a time when even those responsible for making Solo weren't sure it could fully work.
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The book The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story includes a quote from the younger Kasdan as he discussed his mindset when he first signed on:
"I was ambivalent about doing it with him [Lawrence Kasdan] because I was skeptical there was a good movie in the story of Han's youth. I don't tend to like prequels because there's little to no suspense about whether the hero will survive; of course he will. We see him later."
Kasdan went on to reveal that Han's death in The Force Awakens is truly what spurred him on to get enthused about working on Solo. Not only did it mean Ehrenreich's version wouldn't be introduced while Ford was still going in the franchise, but he noticed "thematic undercurrents" that connect Solo to the Skywalker saga films. It provided the Kasdans with an opportunity to explore Han's "essential humanism" that's simultaneously his greatest strength and weakness. After seeing Solo, it's apparent the jaded, cynical attitude Han has in A New Hope is merely a facade he puts on after some tough experiences from his past. He was always the "good guy" and couldn't help but put his faith in those closest to him - even those long gone from the light (Qi'ra and then many years later, Ben Solo).
Several critiques on Solo stated the film was "unnecessary," but the film managed to go beyond simply checking boxes and added depth to Han's character with an emotional story that saw him go from a man with no people to finding a home aboard the Millennium Falcon alongside Chewbacca. Much like Rogue One, it works very well as a complementary piece to the original trilogy, giving greater context to certain aspects of the previous movies and enriching them for rewatches.
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Source: The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story
