Lord and Miller leave Star Wars return open
Published on · Updated on
On The Town, Phil Lord and Chris Miller said they would not rule out returning to Star Wars, without confirming an offer, talks or a project in development.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller have not ruled out directing another Star Wars film, but they have not announced a project. In an interview published on October 23 on The Town podcast, the filmmakers were asked whether they would accept an invitation from Lucasfilm under its new leadership. Their answer was: “Never say never.” The phrase reopens a possibility that seemed unlikely after the pair left Solo in 2017, but it does not confirm talks or a return.
What Lord and Miller said
The exchange took place during the October 23 episode of The Town with Matthew Belloni, recorded with journalist Lucas Shaw and released by The Ringer. The conversation also covered Project Hail Mary, the filmmakers’ work as a directing team and their experiences with major studios. The question was direct: would they return to Star Wars if they received an offer?
“Never say never.”
The answer leaves room without making a commitment. It sets no conditions, does not indicate that Lucasfilm is in talks with them and does not identify a character or story the directors might want to tackle. The podcast did not announce an offer either. The confirmed point is narrow: when asked, Lord and Miller did not close the door on a future invitation.
The history explains why a brief answer drew attention. The pair had been selected to direct Solo: A Star Wars Story, an adventure centered on Han Solo’s younger years. Production continued for months before the studio and directors ended their partnership in a public split associated with creative differences over the film. The new comment signals hypothetical openness, not a formal reconciliation or a decision to return to the franchise.
Why the Solo departure still matters
On June 20, 2017, Lucasfilm said the film would move forward with a change in directors. President Kathleen Kennedy said the parties had “different creative visions” and had decided to part ways. In the same statement, Lord and Miller said their vision and process were not aligned with those of the project’s partners. The announcement did not detail every disagreement, so more specific accounts of what happened behind the scenes should be treated as reporting rather than an official conclusion.
“It became clear that we had different creative visions on this film.”
Ron Howard took over, and Solo reached theaters in May 2018. The film earned about $393.2 million worldwide, according to The Numbers. That figure often appears in discussion of the movie’s commercial performance, but gross box office alone does not account for production and marketing costs, exhibitors’ shares or later revenue. It is a reference point in the film’s history, not a complete measure of profit or loss.
For Lord and Miller, then, the question of returning involves a specific collaboration that ended before release. Their October answer does not revise what happened on that production. It also does not suggest they want to revisit Solo or finish an alternate cut. The topic is a possible new job in the universe, if the right circumstances and story come along.
A Lucasfilm with different leadership
The podcast question also came in a different institutional setting. In January 2026, The Walt Disney Company announced a Lucasfilm leadership transition: Kathleen Kennedy would step down from studio leadership, and Dave Filoni would become president and chief creative officer alongside co-president Lynwen Brennan. The change explains the reference to new leadership, but it does not prove that current executives approached Lord and Miller or are planning a film with them.
A change in leadership can prompt fans to reconsider older projects, especially when established filmmakers show a willingness to talk. Still, that combination should not be turned into an announcement. The directors’ answer does not name Filoni or Brennan, point to a script in development or set a timeline. Anything beyond that would be speculation.
Lucasfilm’s public Star Wars film catalog provides a verifiable view of released titles, while The Town episode records the comment behind this story. Until the studio or filmmakers share something more concrete, those are the boundaries of the news: a question, a short answer and a professional history still shaped by the Solo experience.
What is confirmed — and what is not
Phil Lord and Chris Miller did say “Never say never” when asked about a possible return. It is also documented that the pair left Solo in 2017 after creative differences were publicly acknowledged by Lucasfilm and the filmmakers themselves. The film was completed under Ron Howard and released in 2018.
There is no announcement of a deal, meeting, script, character or schedule involving Lord, Miller and a new Star Wars film. The phrase is not a definitive yes; it only says the possibility is not impossible. The distinction matters in a franchise where projects can change during development and conversations about ideas do not mean a production has been approved.
For saga followers, the news lies in the contrast between the 2017 split and the door the directors left open nine years later. The next step would depend on a real offer and a creative agreement that works for everyone. Until then, a return remains hypothetical. Revista Pixel has also covered another Star Wars project that did not move forward; browse more stories in Pop Culture.
Sources: The Town episode on The Ringer; Lucasfilm’s statement on Solo; Disney’s leadership announcement; The Numbers box office data; official Solo page.
Suggested and related articles
Star Wars: Jon Watts’ secret western series shelved?
Paramount Completes Warner Acquisition and Reshapes Hollywood
The Batman Part II Halts Production as Reeves Steps Away
From Brazil to the World! The Best-Selling Brazilian Telenovelas Abroad
The 10 Best TV Series of the 90s
