'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Trailer Isn't Long Away According to Director

As The Last Jedi grows smaller in Star Wars fans' rearview mirrors, our eyes are looking towards the horizon in hopes of catching a glimpse of the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story. Director Ron Howard took to Twitter to confirm that, with Lucasfilm focusing less on Episode VIII, it "won't be long" until our first look at Solo debuts.

When a fan on Twitter merely asked, "Solo trailer?" Howard took the bait to answer, "Hang in there :-). Now that ep 8 is out there it won't be long."

Throughout the course of Howard's tenure as the film's director, he has regularly teased behind-the-scenes looks at very ambiguous elements of the film, including carefully framing elements in a photo or using specific words to hint at bigger reveals for the film. The above response is one of the more direct answers that Howard has given, even though "it won't be long" isn't very specific.

Ever since Disney purchased both Marvel and Lucasfilm, the release strategies of anticipated marketing materials have developed a pattern, with Disney often using broadcasts on ABC and ESPN to debut trailers and clips. Some fans have predicted that, given Solo's May release date being similar to 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, the upcoming Star Wars film's trailer would debut during tonight's college football National Championship on ESPN.

This rumor seems unlikely, as Disney will instead be airing a new Black Panther trailer, with some rumors now assuming the trailer will debut during the January 12 airing of Good Morning America on ABC.

Other than assumptions based on previous marketing strategies, there's no official information about the trailer debuting during the morning show, yet Howard's above message could be that hint we've been waiting for.

Despite the upcoming spin-off film having no direct connection to the Skywalker Saga, it might be the film Star Wars fans are most looking forward to, with both excitement and hesitation. The film's original directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, departed the project with only three weeks left of principal photography with neither the directors nor Lucasfilm giving much explanation.

In the months since Howard took over filming in July, various rumors have swirled regarding star Alden Ehrenreich's performance, how much of the original film Howard had to re-shoot and Disney already anticipating a disappointment.

The film's cast and crew, however, have regularly voiced their support of the film, the original directors and Howard's leadership.

Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25.

[H/T Twitter, realronhoward]