DIRECTOR Ron Howard is planning a massive change of tack for the upcoming Han Solo movie that is set to put super villain Jabba The Hutt front and centre.

According to reports the vile intergalactic criminal boss is set to play a leading role in the latest backstory film in the famous franchise that is scheduled for release next year.

Academy Award-winning director Howard took control of the movie last week after the shock sackings of directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

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media_camera Han Solo takes issue with Jabba The Hutt in the Special Edition of Star Wars.

Jabba The Hutt’s personal history is now expected to be one of the key narratives in the movie and fans are likely to finally find out how Han Solo and The Hutt first crossed paths and how their fractious relationship developed.

Lord and Miller reportedly clashed with Lucasfilm executives over the script and this is where Howard is said to be making some major changes.

Howard is expected to reshoot much of the film in which Hutt only enjoyed a cameo appearance.

Jabba The Hutt is expected to be made up in part as a computer-generated image and as an “animatronic puppet”.

The film is yet to be given a title.

One of the key antagonists of the Star Wars series, Jabba The Hutt first appeared in 1983’s Return of the Jedi, the third movie in the hugely popular and successful franchise.

His morbidly obese and slug-like appearance ensured he was a polarising and enduring figure among Star Wars fans.

media_camera Ron Howard has taken the reigns of the new Star Wars movie.

He has also appeared in The Phanton Menace, the Special Edition of A New Hope and The Clone Wars.

Lord and Miller had been fighting with veteran screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, before Lucasfilm and Disney backed him over the directors.

Oscar-winner Howard is expected to meet soon with stars Donald Glover, Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton to smooth over the sudden change in direction.

Jabba The Hutt

Howard and George Lucas go back decades.

Long before Howard got behind the cameras, he was the fresh-faced star of Lucas’ breakout hit American Graffiti in 1973.

Howard won the 2002 directing Oscar for A Beautiful Mind and was nominated in 2009 for Frost/Nixon.

Originally published as Jabba The Hutt set to return