Earlier today, we reported on the fact that dynamic directing duo, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, are far too busy to return to their Jump Street franchise to direct 23 Jump Street. While they will still produce that movie, they have bigger fish to fry. The pair are responsible for two other very important franchise movies set up at different studios. They will be directing the Spider-Man Animated Movie for Sony, which arrives in 2018 following the studio's live-action Spider-Man reboot in 2017. And they will also be directing the Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo Movie for Disney and LucasFilm, which is expected to hit that same year.

The pair made a name for themselves with the animated hit Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. And proving that was no family friendly fluke, they created a blockbuster out of The Lego Movie, something most thought was impossible. Now they are taking on two of the most popular characters in pop culture history. Speaking with IGN, Chris Miller teased how he and his partner are tackling such a monumental task.

"It's a huge pressure. We always try and find something that's gonna... give fire to our bellies and do a really good job. And this feels like there's a lot of pressure to not screw this up. So we've definitely got that motivation and then the rest of it is about trying to give audiences a fresh experience that doesn't feel like you're just trying to check off some checklist of beats that you're expecting and make something that feels new and exciting for people, but at the same time honoring what was so great about that character."

Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and this year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is penning the Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo Movie with his son Jon Kasdan. The plot will focus on a young Han Solo, with a story that tells how he became a space pirate and smuggler before teaming up with Luke and Ben Kenobi on a mission to save a Princess and destroy a Death Star. Chris Miller knows that bringing this tale to the big screen for the first time is important, but relies on childhood memories in seeing it to the finish line.

"When I was a kid on the playground fights were about who got to play Han Solo. He's just one of the best characters ever created... I could talk to you for a day about why he is the perfect blend of rogue-ish cowboy... Morally ambiguous, but has a clear moral compass. He's funny. He's off the cuff."

Adding to the pressure is the fact that Harrison Ford himself is returning to reprise the character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, adding even more history and gravitas to Han Solo. There is no word yet on who will play the young Han Solo. Nor has it been confirmed that Tom Holland, who played Peter Parker in the 2017 Spider-Man reboot, will be back to voice the character in the Spider-Man Animated Movie. Chris Miller promises that movie is being approached with a fresh approach as well.

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Do you think Phil Lord and Chris Miller have what it takes to bring Han Solo and Peter Parker back to the big screen with a fresh twist that will appeal to old and young fans alike? Or will it be too much of a challenge? Both films are scheduled to hit the same summer, making 2018 one of the biggest yet. Are you excited? Or is it too soon?

B. Alan Orange at Movieweb
B. Alan Orange