The GreatSoloMarketing Mystery is about to be solved. Kinda. Fans have been curious as to why, with four months to go before release, Lucasfilm and Disney haven’t unveiled so much as an official still from the production-troubled spinoffSolo: A Star Wars Story. The film entered production with directorsPhil LordandChris Miller, but the duo departed the project with three weeks of filming left to go over creative differences.Ron Howardcame on at the tail end of last summer and resumed and extended filming through the fall, at which point most assumed Disney would push the release date from May 2019 to December.
But the Mouse House seems intent on sticking to that date, which makes the lack of an image or trailer at this point all the more bewildering. However,THRreports that they may finally be letting the cat out of the bag during the biggest television event of the year: the Super Bowl. The outlet says the marketing campaign forSolo: A Star Wars Storyis “likely” to kick off during the Super Bowl, but Lucasfilm and Disney are remaining mum. That would certainly make sense—if they’ve waited this long, why not drop the very first look during the TV event of the year?
Full-length trailers don’t normally air during the Super Bowl since every second of airtime costs a boatload of money, but it’s possible we get a 30-second or 60-second spot showing off the very first footage from the movie. I also wouldn’t be surprised if that spot then pointed viewers to YouTube where the first official trailer is online at that time.
The timing lines up with when the trailer will be in theaters, as THR adds that it would make sense for theSolotrailer to be attached toBlack Panther, which is where theDeadpool 2traileris also expected to debut.
Why Disney waited so long to show offSolois still a bit of a mystery, though. Sources tell THR they wanted to wait untilStar Wars: The Last Jedihad finished its run, which is why they waited untilForce Awakensfever died down to debut footage fromRogue Onein 2016—butRogue Onewasn’t coming out in May, it was coming out in December. Regardless, it appears it’ll all be moot by this weekend as our first look atSolois imminent.
The Super Bowl plays host to a variety of movie spots, and this year’s is no different.Mission: Impossible – Falloutwill debut its first footage during the game, and Universal Pictures has staked out a rare 90 seconds for a newJurassic World: Fallen Kingdomspot. We’ll also get our first look at footage from theDwayne JohnsonactionerSkyscraper, and Disney is expected to advertise two other titles during the game as well, which could beBlack Panther,Avengers: InfinityWar, orA Wrinkle in Time. There’s even talk of Netflix debuting the first look at thenewCloverfieldmovieGod ParticleAKACloverfield Station, with the streaming service in talks to acquire the film from Paramount.
Whatever shows up you may bet we at Collider will be rounding up all the movie spots as well as the best commercials that air during the game, so be sure to check back here on Super Bowl Sunday.
