Ron Howard has revealed he rejected the opportunity to direct The Phantom Menace in a car park.

The director, who helms the forthcoming Han Solo prequel Solo: A Star Wars Story, recently said he was approached about directing The Phantom Menace by the film's eventual director George Lucas before its release in 1999.

However, Howard said he turned the proposition down as he felt Lucas himself should direct the project.

Oh, and he also revealed the conversation between the pair actually took place in a car park, because of course it did.

Disney

Related: Solo: A Star Wars Story is praised in first reviews

"It was a casual conversation in a car park," Howard told Total Film. "It was not like I read a script and weighed it carefully.

"It was a knee-jerk reaction because I immediately felt like George should do it."

The reveal comes before the release of Howard's Star Wars directional debut Solo: A Star Wars Story later this month.

Initial reviews for the film came out earlier this week and and the good news is that the first reactions are mostly positive.

It also comes after Howard discussed the possibility of Solo sequels.

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"This whole thing is kind of a cool, ambitious exploration of what the galaxy and the Star Wars sensibility can continue to mean to fans," he told Fandango.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will be released in cinemas on May 24 in the UK and May 25 in the US. Book tickets now.

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