'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Gets Praise From 'The Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson

It's been less than a month since we got our first official look at Solo: A Star Wars Story with the Super Bowl TV spot and the full teaser trailer. For some fans it brought relief, for others it confirmed worries they've had since directors Phil Lord & Chris Miller were removed from the project and replaced by Ron Howard. But for one fan who has some more insight as to what's going on behind the scenes, it sounds like maybe we shouldn't be concerned.

Director Rian Johnson recently accepted an AARP Movies for Grownups award, as  Star Wars: The Last Jedi won the Best Film prize. While at the event, he was asked about his reaction to the first Solo trailer, and his answer indicated that he's seen a lot more of the movie than the rest of us.

Speaking to ComicBook.com last night, Johnson had this to say about the Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer:

"I knew it was coming, but I was still...I was clicking, clicking, clicking, 'yeah, yeah!' And I think it looks so beautiful. I can't wait for people to see more of the film – it's so fun, it's so funny. The cast is so charismatic, and I think they all just did a great job with it."

That certainly sounds like Johnson has seen much more than just the teaser trailer. In fact, him simply saying, "It's so fun, it's so funny," might indicate that he's seen a rough cut of the movie, likely to offer notes and insight. His words don't sound like they're just describing a small amount of footage, but rather a reaction to the entire film.

For fans who didn't like The Last Jedi, that may not bring comfort. But for me, Johnson's reaction makes me hopeful that Solo's origin story will pan out in a satisfying way. Johnson feels like a fan ingrained in Star Wars, but not afraid to evolve from how we all expect the franchise to behave. So if he's satisfied with what he saw from Solo, then maybe we will be too.

Of course, since Johnson is on the inside track, he may simply be saying kind things just to keep spirits and morale up leading up to the release of the movie. But even star Donald Glover says the movie has a bit more fun than the usual Star Wars film. The good news is that we only have to wait a few more months before we get to see it ourselves, and we'll likely be seeing more footage in the near future too.

Are you excited for Solo: A Star Wars Story? Does Rian Johnson's reaction give you hope?