We finally know what Lucasfilm will be doing with its other Star Wars anthology film, and they've made one heck of an interesting hire to direct.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) have signed on to direct a Han Solo origin story that will focus on the early days of young Han Solo and how he became the smuggler, thief and scoundrel who Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley. The film will mark the second anthology film, after the Death Star plan heist pic Rogue One.

That means we'll be meeting a new actor in the iconic role (*Chris Pratt's phone rings*) and digging deeper into the era before the original trilogy. We also wonder if the Han-centric developments in Marvel's Star Wars comic will be a factor. Disney knows Han Solo is valuable IP in his own right, and they have every intention of cashing in. But, with Miller and Lord, it could actually make for one heck of a fun movie.

Here's what Lord and Miller told Star Wars about the project:

"This is the first film we've worked on that seems like a good idea to begin with. We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us. This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you're late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you've loved since before you can remember having dreams at all."

The screenplay is being written by Star Wars legend Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan, which is very good news. But, considering Lord and MIller's penchant for great dialogue, we'd imagine they'll almost certainly have some input in the shooting script.

The Han Solo prequel film is tentatively set for a May 25, 2018, release.

(Via Star Wars, The Hollywood Reporter)