It was recently reported that Bryce Dallas Howard could be moving toward directing a Star Wars movie.
Howard at least said she would love the opportunity, after her involvement with the upcoming Skeleton Crew series.
What would Howard’s directing look like? And, what would it mean for the Star Wars universe?
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Bryce Dallas Howard and Star Wars
In a recent interview, Bryce Dallas Howard expressed how she hopes to become more involved with Star Wars.
Already known for directing episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Howard has also signed on to direct an episode of the upcoming Skeleton Crew series.
She expressed her excitement about that prospect but also said she would “absolutely love” to direct a film in the future.
As the daughter of Ron Howard, Howard first became known for her acting in such movies as Jurassic World and Spider-Man 3. She entered the Star War universe with Episode 4 in Season of The Mandalorian, “The Sanctuary.”
In that episode, Howard indicated her approach to this franchise.
As Din Djarin and Grogu escape to the planet Sorgan, they hope to find a hiding place but are pulled into a local crisis with raiders, who possess an AT-ST, marauding a peaceful village.
Howard aptly builds tension around the battle with the AT-ST, framing the walker like a “horror movie monster.”
Howard also directed Episode 3 in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, bringing the character Bo-Katan Kyrze to live-action.
These references to Howard’s directing provide clues as to what a movie directed by her may look like.
What Would a Star Wars Movie Be Like?
A Bryce Dallas Howard Star Wars movie is sure to have plenty of action, tension, and drama, as we would expect from this universe.
Yet, Howard is likely to add a twist to this combination, by building on close-up shots, as she did in “The Sanctuary,” and drawing out characters that may have been only in animation so far, as in “The Heiress.”
The upcoming Skeleton Crew centers on “a group of children lost in space” who are trying to get home and have numerous adventures and entanglements along the way.
As such, this series is geared toward a younger audience but still wants to pull in an adult audience. Hence, Howard will likely pull on this experience balancing the two groups, making it kid-friendly but not losing adults.
What Do Fans Think?
Most fans think this would be a great idea. As this discussion reveals, some fans see Howard as someone “who needs to be at the helm of most” Star Wars projects and praise how she was “RAISED as a Star Wars fan” and therefore “gets the Lore and continuity.”
While some would prefer a director with more experience with movies and does not rely on nepotism, most others see her directing as a positive move.
The same holds true on this discussion board. Many responses credit the episodes Howard has already done, especially for The Mandalorian, for establishing a solid track record.
While questions arise about the difference between directing an episode versus a full-length movie, most fans support giving her a chance.
Some of this fan support comes on the heels of criticism directed at Leslye Headland’s vision for The Acolyte.
Yet, as this article captures, that criticism could be overblown and misses the way Headland is trying to push in new directions and “take risks” with the storytelling, character choices, and plot lines.
This became even more apparent in Episodes 5 and 6 which decimated main characters and flipped the roles of the leading ones.
So, instead of moving away from Headland, Howard may borrow from her. Taking Star Wars in new directions is daring, and Howard seems up for that challenge.
Howard Directing a Movie
Bryce Dallas Howard is excited about the prospect of directing a Star Wars movie, and most fans are too. Howard will draw on her experience directing episodes of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and The Skeleton Crew.
She also will probably seek to push the Star Wars universe into new terrain that appeals to younger and older audiences alike.
Todd Wahlstrom is a creative and analytical freelance writer and life-long Star Wars fan. He has covered such topics as Darth Vader, the Jedi, Boba Fett, and AT-AT Walkers. Todd has published a non-fiction book, holds a Ph.D. in history, and enjoys hiking, running, and reading about science.