Ron Howard opened up to Vulture about taking over the helm of the Star Wars prequel movie Solo, after Lucasfilm and original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had creative differences.

Howard said it all came down to the movie’s tone. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy asked him to a lunch meeting, where they were joined by “Solo” co-writer Jonathan Kasdan.

“They basically said, ‘We’ve reached creative impasse with Lord and Miller. Would you ever consider coming in?’” Howard remembered. “I looked at some edited footage, and I saw what was bothering them. There was a studio that liked the script the way it was and wanted a ‘Star Wars’ movie, but there was a disconnect early on tonally, and they weren’t convinced that what Phil and Chris were doing was working effectively.”

Just don’t forget — it’s for 12-year-old boys

Howard got the chance to consult with “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, who was not involved in the development or filming of “Solo.” Before Howard committed to taking over as director, he got advice from Lucas, who told him, “Just don’t forget — it’s for 12-year-old boys.”

He said, “It just didn’t live up to expectations. I came in eager to help, felt like I could, and had a blast. Normally it takes three years, I worked eight months and had an experience. I feel very good about the way it turned out. I loved the way it played to audiences, which I witnessed. All of that I am able to feel good about.”

Howard cited nostalgia as a reason “Solo” bombed at the box office. “Maybe it’s the idea that it’s too nostalgic,” he said. “That going back and revisiting an origin story for a beloved character may not be what the fans were looking for.”

Vulture’s website to read Howard’s interview in its entirety.