Dan Zehr's "Solo" Premiere Experience & Star Wars TV History

Red Carpet Premiere Experience

• 🚀 Dan Zehr recounts his exclusive experience as a guest on the red carpet for the world premiere of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and the subsequent afterparty.
• 🌟 He highlights the thrill of being on the red carpet, not in the typical press pen, allowing for more freedom and interaction.
• 📸 A significant moment was seeing the Millennium Falcon being constructed on Hollywood Boulevard, which he captured from various vantage points despite a fear of heights.
• 🤝 Dan had memorable, brief encounters with George Lucas, whom he thanked and patted on the back, and Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, with whom he shook hands and shared appreciation for the company's direction.

Star Wars Television and Canon

• 📺 The discussion touches upon the upcoming live-action Star Wars series set 7 years after the Battle of Yavin, featuring new characters.
• 🎬 The canon status of the Ewok movies ("Caravan of Courage" and "The Battle for Endor") is clarified; they are not considered canon, though Lucasfilm acknowledges them, unlike the "Star Wars Holiday Special."
• 💡 A creature from the Ewok films, the Gorax, was later brought into canon through the "Forces of Destiny" animated series.
• ⚠️ It's clarified that the new live-action series is set 7 years after the Battle of Yavin (destruction of the Death Star), making it approximately 3 years after "Return of the Jedi," not 7 years after "Return of the Jedi" as initially misreported.
• 📺 The upcoming animated series, "Star Wars Resistance," is also mentioned as being set closer to the time of "The Force Awakens."

"Solo" Film and Cast

• 🎬 Dan shares his spoiler-free review of "Solo," describing it as a really fun film with no major galactic ramifications, focusing instead on Han Solo's immediate environment and relationships.
• ✨ He praises Alden Ehrenreich's performance as Han Solo, stating he made him forget Harrison Ford, and commends Donald Glover's casting as Lando Calrissian.
• 🎥 The film's production history is briefly mentioned, noting that approximately 70% of the final film was shot by Ron Howard after the original directors were replaced.

Ron Howard's Career Lessons

• 🎭 Ron Howard's approach to directing "Solo" is linked to lessons learned on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Happy Days."
• 🌟 On "The Andy Griffith Show," Howard observed how Andy Griffith graciously handled Don Knotts's breakout success as Barney Fife, maintaining the show's popularity.
• 🚀 Similarly, on "Happy Days," Howard, as Richie Cunningham, didn't feel threatened by Henry Winkler's popularity as Fonzie, understanding that the show's success was paramount.
• 🎬 These experiences taught Howard not to create unnecessary drama and to support the overall success of a project, a philosophy he applied to "Solo."

Theme Park Events and Experiences

• 🎢 Dan describes an impressive press event in Pasadena, featuring a traveling Millennium Falcon exhibit where he had a memorable interaction with a Chewbacca performer.
• 🎤 He also attended a press conference where he asked a question about moral ambiguity to Ron Howard, Lawrence Kasdan, and Donald Glover.
• 🌟 The discussion shifts to upcoming Galactic Nights events at Disney Hollywood Studios, focusing on previews of Galaxy's Edge with Imagineering personnel.
• 🎟️ These after-hours events are described as premium experiences with unique photo opportunities, themed menus, and exclusive access to attractions, despite the higher ticket cost.
• 📸 Similar Star Wars-themed events at Disneyland are mentioned, highlighting popular photo opportunities like meeting R2-D2 and interacting with themed environments.