Update! Rian Johnson Takes to Twitter to Answer Fan Questions About Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Addresses Kylo Ren’s Scar!
After spending 4 hours among the fans waiting in line for The Last Jedi panel, and after showing the fans the highly anticipated teaser for the sequel to The Force Awakens, director Rian Johnson took to Twitter to continue his interaction with the fans. With brief tweets Johnson answered multiple questions from the fans, and while there were no big revelations, some interesting bits have been revealed like why the fans didn’t get free pizzas while waiting for the panel like last year; are we going to see all scenes from the teaser in the movie; what creative influence he had over the teaser; who did the teaser and more.
Here are some of the things he discussed on Twitter:
What an amazing day. THANK YOU to everyone at Celebration, and all my fellow fans who have been ridiculously patient for this. ❤️ https://t.co/dVmiu9Pfvh
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 14, 2017
@PackofNerds It’s a Leica M6, you can pick them up used on ebay
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 14, 2017
@Moiz Lately a summicron 28, also love the summicron 50
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 15, 2017
@brielarson For you, Brie, I will take it under consideration.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 15, 2017
@JDemonic Luke
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 16, 2017
@papersflower Hahaha I understand 😘
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 16, 2017
@enormouscomic @HamillHimself Nope
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@P_R_S_2 I think it was a health code thing actually, I was told we would have had to arrange it with them far in advance.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@paolomac888 I didn’t think about imitating a specific style, I’m sure some of my visual tics got in there.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@YohanFaure Wow, no but I love the reference.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@SipsAndFoam We would always be looking at reference with the designers, but I never cut a clip-o-matic
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@fanfootagefr I’m not sure yet, we’re still editing the movie.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@KevinMcCarthyTV Just some selected sequences
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@KevinMcCarthyTV Thanks – that was a helicopter shot, I think we did three passes at it
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@jc_ovando Thanks! It’s all @steveyedlin
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@Dburg25 Yeah, we have a very talented music editor who cut a temp using JW’s scores. 95% SW.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@DanFarias2000 I said in my mind it’s singular. I didn’t do the title translations.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@mutlubulutlar It isn’t.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@_dangerous Every movie is a collaboration, but I didn’t feel less creative control or ownership with this than I have with any of my other films.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@Will_Pond Thanks! It was made by some talented folks at Disney, they were super cool & collaborative, and kept me involved.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
@TheSWLegacy I didn’t cut it, Disney did, but I believe they used AVID.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 17, 2017
Update!
Clarification from Rian about Kylo Ren’s scar, which seemed slightly different from his would from The Force Awakens:
@origonalname113 @mutlubulutlar @StarWarsNewsNet @TheLastKylo It was my decision to slightly adjust it, and that was my justification. It honestly looked goofy running straight up the bridge of his nose
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 19, 2017
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
I’m confused. First he said he cut the trailer. Then he said Disney did it. It looks like RJ has a habit of flip-flopping and contradicting himself.
No, he didn’t. That tweet where he says “Yeah, I cut it!”, he was talking about his movie Brick, not the TLJ trailer.
OK.
“It looks like RJ has a habit of flip-flopping and contradicting himself.”
Confused and prone to jump to conclusions.
What it really looks like is that you have a habit of relentlessly trying to find bad things to say and/or complaints about a movie you haven’t seen yet and its director. Something wrong, pal?
It’s pathological with some of the folks here.
He was probably dunk in his hotel room in Orlando when answering…
He’s notoriously shy and the energy you saw at SWC was most likely fueled by….caffein at best; something else at worst.
So no one thought to ask why the shot of Rey training is reversed?
I didn’t notice.
https://gfycat.com/InsistentFewGoitered
Why do you think that? I’m genuinely curious.
Look closely at the movement.
I can see what you mean..and using the mountain to transition to another scene would make sense..we shall see.
Looks normal to me. If it really is reversed, they probably only did that for the teaser.
Oh shit you know what he might have a point..look at the water.
Why wouldn’t it be? He didn’t edit the trailer and reversing shots for trailers is not unheard of. I mean it doesn’t change the scene it just might have flowed better with the other imagery they had in the trailer. It’s been done before, mirroring or reversing shots. I doubt there’s any bigger meaning behind it, it probably just looked better for the trailer.
In this case, it misleads the audience regarding her training technique. It’s not just a random shot, but an important element showcasing a warped fighting style that simply doesn’t make sense.
Omg, it’s not that important. It shows that Rey is training.
Don’t have a cow.
Guys, RJ didn’t cut the trailer or the film. That tweet you pulled about him editing is from a longer thread discussing his film “Brick”.
In any case, he doesn’t cut his own movie’s trailer and he apparently didn’t know tthat he title of his movie, which in his mind is singular, was translated as plural in virtually all other European languages in which a translation is available. How much control does he really have over this project ?
No director cuts his/hers trailer. They have special companies for that. And he answered the question about control and autonomy. Because he feels ownership over the movie and he wrote it, I suppose he has the right to interpret the title as he wrote it, much more than a bunch of translators. And I am saying that as an translator. 🙂
Some do. I think Fincher cut the Dragon Tattoo trailer. Could be wrong though. 🙂
JJ didnt cut TFA trailers, and it wasnt JW scoring the music for the trailers either. Its all Disneys editing team. Alot of people get confused over that.
Control over the film itself is one thing. Marketing is another.
Even indie directors have trouble controlling every aspect in smaller films (it’s quite a lot of work for one person!), and often the marketing falls outside of their hands. Even very personal films are collaborative work.
He literally addressed that in one of the tweets.
lol. And you have no idea how the movie business works. Why in the world would he have anything to do with the translation of the film in any language. Not even going to address the trailer comment. Total Newb.
And when all else fails, remember: Reading is fundamental!
http://static1.thisisinsider.com/image/588643c1ba58c325198b4af0-1920
how much control do you have over your fingers?
Yeah, I got confused. Fixed.
Pretty cool of him to take some time answer questions. Thanks Rian! and thanks SWNN for putting it all together here!
”A health code thing”, It’s pizza Ryan.
Disney don’t want to start a ‘thing’, we get it.
I actually believe him on this. Health code can be an issue on this stuff. There are regulations against just handing out food to a large group of people. Disney could get into trouble easily if something happened. Yes it’s very unlikely but there’s always the possibility of some nutjob suing and then you are in trouble if you violated any regulations.
Didn’t stop JJ.
Maybe California and Florida laws are different.
I was at Celebration. At no time was Adam Driver or his character even mentioned in the TLJ panel. Anyone else find that to be curious?
no b/c it was focused on the people there
There was not even an acknowledge of Adam Driver, such as “unfortunately Adam was unable to be here this weekend, but we are really excited for you to see how his character evolves in TLJ.” Almost every other panel I attended acknowledged actors who played significant roles who were not able to attend.
They didn’t mention Phasma or Snoke either, so I wouldn’t worry that much. They also didn’t mention Chewie.
Good point. That does help put my concerns at ease.
Also, just look at the Movie poster. Luke is the biggest face and right next to him is Kylo/Adam Driver. He’s for sure going to play a big role.
Why do Star Wars fans fret so much over nothing?
It’s nothing to worry about.
I think we will get plenty of Adam in the press tour this year. I’m not quite as worried. They want to leave it a little open ended for the next few trailers and the movie itself too. I am sure we may read something in one of the new “Journey to The Last Jedi” series too.
Wow, very gracious of him. So far I have a very good impression of him, a humble and well spoken director. Hope his movie is a blast!
He truly is a very nice,humble individual. I unfortunately didn’t attend celebration but I met him a number of years ago at a screenwriting conference. Also, to be selfish; I want Rian to succeed. Because, he really is a very good director and I want him to get more work.
Unlike Abrams, he’s earned goodwill because he doesn’t boast. Yes, he talks about the movie, but he truly is thankful to the fans and knows the importance of needing to continue this franchise.
Abrams seemed thankful to me as well. We don’t have to make the last guy a bad guy just because we like the new guy too.
Good for you. I personally cannot stand Abrams as an individual. He’s a decent TV, director, so I’ll give him credit.
I’m not getting why he is so horrible to you as a person. Geez.
It is a long story, but let’s just say he was a complete dick to me. And I’ll be clear; I was perfectly polite and sensible when I saw him. But I guess he thought he was too important to associate himself with a plebeian like myself. Whatever. Regardless, he’s diet Spielberg anyway.
A lot of his movies, either being ripoffs/ utter messes. He’s no Michael Bay, but man he isn’t good either way. Honestly, his style is more appropirate for TV. And even then so, I hate his dam mystery box. It does absolutely nothing. Even in a series like Lost, it just kept being push more and more back.
So yeah, judge me all you want, but it won’t change my views on him. Really, the thing I’m shocked is how Rian Johnson is friends with him, but then again Rian isn’t an asshole; so that definitely counts for something.
In all fairness, JJ Abrams was only involved in the pilot of Lost and maybe some initial stuff with the first few episodes. Any issues you have with Lost you take up with Damon and Carlton.
Indeed, but he clearly did have influence on that series. And I argue, painted the writers into a big corner. I hope that Rian Johnson wasn’t painted into a corner. But I argue if there is anyone who can make this ST work, it is him.
And besides that, Abrams the kind of guy whose movies I just find really bad. He reminds me of someone who claims to produce high end, original work, but clearly rips off from others.
If he were someone like Michael Bay who is at least honest about the stuff he puts out fine, but really I honestly consider Abrams the Emperor with no clothes when it comes to films. And I truly believe any other director would have done better. Heck, Spielberg was considered for this movie which would have been great.
Regardless, it is not like Abrams matters. TLJ is Rian’s movie. Abrams is a producer, but really is just a glorified consultant. Nothing wrong with that. I like the idea that each of these directors stays on to give indirect aid to the other. As long as Abrams and Kennedy stay out of Rian’s away and let’s him direct the movie(good or bad), things for TLJ should be fine.
good or bad is subjective opinion.
I think that is fairly obvious from my statement and the fact you couldn’t gleam that speaks volumes of your intentions. You clearly want to engage in an argument to which I’ve done nothing but be courteous and polite. I have explained my position and you don’t agree, fine. I recommend you just part ways at this point. I do not want to further waste time with this fruitless conversation.
So consider this the last time I respond. Good bye.
Good and bad can be subjective. Good and evil are not.
Those are subjective, too.
Just ask Anakin! *rimshot*
So basically you tried to fanboy out on him when he was preoccupied and when he didn’t drop everything to share your geekgasm you got pissed and ripped all your LOST posters down? HAHAHAHAHA
No, actually. Perhaps, I caught him on a bad day, but regardless even before my encounter my sentiments towards Abrams had begun well before I met him. And as for me ripping Lost posters, what are you, twelve?
Like I’d sink to that level. But I guess it is easy it is to mischaracterize individuals on the Internet. Unless, you have anything productive to say other than teehee haha; don’t expect me to respond back to you.
I was commenting on your apparent lack of maturity in the situation with the LOST poster comment. Again, it just sounds like salty fanboy BS to me, and you’ve done nothing to characterize it any differently but everything to reinforce this so if that’s not the case please feel free to elaborate because I’ve met him 3 times and he was cordial and friendly on all occasions. You’re account is counter to just about everything else I’ve heard about the man also, which is why I was curious. I agree he’s a bit pretentious but I’ve never seen or heard of him being rude to fans before.
That’s certainly what it sounds like.
Yeah, his response didn’t do much to assuage that either… 😀 😀 😀
Yeah, Abrams was totally like “I AM THE GREATEST DIRECTOR EVER AND FUCK FANS, BECAUSE YOU’RE USELESS.”
He didn’t like, sound pretty much like Johnson does right now at all.
Actually, no. But then again, it also helps that I met him many years back when I lived in Hollywood. And he was as nice as he had showed himself. He also gave me some amazing advice when I had wanted to get into screenwriting. And while I have exited that field, it is something that I take with me even when I write novels.
If anyone likes Abrams work or as an individual, cool. I have no qualms with that. I just don’t like his work very much(except, Super eight and Mi3. Though, the former works because he’s ripping off Spielberg and the latter because spy flicks work with his style) and him as a person.
And it is not like I am bitter overall. The ST aside, I’ve been enjoying the New Canon,Rebels a mixed bag but nothing bad; and Rogue One was excellent.
Have a good day.
wut
Most interesting thing here is his comment about the trailer music. I wasn’t impressed by it but at least it’s semi-confirmed that they are re-using new themes in the ST unlike certain ones in the PT.
When did he talk about trailer music?
How in the world are you assuming that? The movie isn’t scored yet, so when the trailer was cut, they used existing SW pieces. Can you not come to that logically here, or are you just uber-stoked to criticize again?
Actually scoring on the film began a while ago, http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26905-john-williams-begins-recording-star-wars-episode-viii-score-today-in-los-angeles/
Yes but like in TFA John Williams doesn’t do the trailer music, neither does the director edit the trailer. Trailers are nearly always done by a separate team. I wouldn’t worry about this at all.
This is true. Although I do remember a story about JW being involved with the first teaser for TFA, can’t remember a source, probably the website linked above.
Possible, but as other people in the comments here said… most trailers are not done by the director or the main composer or eeditor or anything. They have special teams, sometimes even external contractors doing that. people who do nothing all day but trailers. Sure they probably get guidelines and a director might have a final approval and such but otherwise… the director is probably happy he can focus on the movie and not worry about having to do marketing material on top of that.
Dave Filoni also doesn’t make the trailers for Rebels. In fact sometimes he thought the trailers gave away too much.
It’s really nothing new and I’m happy to leave JW to concentrate on the actual movie. I’m sure he’ll deliver some great new scores and variations of the already established ones as always 🙂 He was so excited to write more stuff for Daisy 🙂
This is not exactly correct… I’m in no position to say where in the production cycle the movie is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if John Williams has finished the score except for some minor edits and such. However I seriously doubt he has recorded the score. That is one of the last things that is completed after the editing is complete as the conductor has to have the movie playing behind the orchestra to give him a reference so the score can match what is happening on screen. The very last thing that is done is the final sound editing to make sure the levels are correct and the voices and sound effects are not over shadowed by the music, etc.
The trailer music wasn’t from the TLJ soundtrack.
Brie Larson wins.
Wow, I just now realized that Brie Larsen is the chick from 21 Jump Street.
It’s interesting that Disney cut it. What they want to portray as the tone may not be the tone.
I wonder also how much footage they had to work with.
RJ says that he is involved, and obviously production too… I guess it is not far from what he would have done himself.
But who knows.
I think the trailers are rarely done by the directors. The trailer music is also not by John Williams, at least the TFA one didn’t have his music. Trailers are usually put together by a different team and the director just keeps an eye on it. I don’t think this is anything unusual. As long as they don’t put in 99% shots that are not in the movie like Rogue One we’re good 😀
Actually, I believe Williams did to the music for the recent Last Jedi teaser trailer and he did do the music for the very first TFA teaser trailer but that’s it. For all the other trailers they have brought in other composers to do the music.
He did not I saw some other guy coming forward amd saying he provided the music. Can’t remember his name though.
John Williams did write the music for the first TFA Teaser. Not the others.
https://twitter.com/starwars/status/538374915338940416?lang=en
Says so here.
I was referring to the Last Jedi teaser.
Fredrick Loyd came forward saying he did some orchestrations on the Force Awakens trailers. But no one did for the Last Jedi. Even if JW didn’t compose for the TLJ trailer specifically, it was still his music. You can hear Rey’s Theme, and Kylo-Ren’s theme, along with the standard force theme.
“But no one did for the Last Jedi.” Actually that is incorrect as I stated before someone came forward and claimed the arrangement. It was Fredrick Loyd.
“Incredibly proud to have contributed to the re-imagining of John Williams music on the first Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer. #TheLastJedi”
The music in this teaser doesn’t seem like Williams’ style.
It sounded very much like Williams to me especially at the THIS CHRISTMAS part.
No, Williams doesn’t score like that. That part sounds very contemporary Marvel/trailer music style.
The trumpets playing in staccatto are not a signature of Marvel sound tracks. At least I’ve never heard them played like that before.
John Williams also scored the very first TFA teaser, with the jump scare.
So, it makes sense to me that he’d also be willing to do the first TLJ teaser as well.
It’s been confirmed by Star Wars’ Twitter account that, it was in fact new John Williams score for the trailer. However, we aren’t sure if that means they just used his themes and edited it together while including some new themes or if that it was all actually composed by him.
John Williams DID write the music for the first TFA teaser. Someone else wrote the music for all the others.
Trailers are rarely if ever cut by the directors. I suggest you watch GoodBadFlicks(awesome Youtuber by the way)’s video on what is the problem with trailers. He goes over how a trailer is cut and quite frankly I agree with him; it is an outdated model.
It is why I respect someone like Edgar Wright, because while a lot of his movies I find hit or miss; as a former editor he does know how to cut a trailer and a movie very well.
Never watch any youtuber.
There’s an entirely different team that cuts a trailer on almost every film made; it’s not interesting it’s typical.
But you are correct, those who make the trailers are essentially a marketing team and the tone can be misrepresented from the final product.
Godzilla is one of the best films in recent years to to do this.
I think he is saying look closely at the movement of Rey and the sword techniques she is using.
Luke: You are using Bonetti’s Defense against me, ah?
Rey: I thought it fitting considering the rocky terrain.
Luke: Naturally, you must suspect me to attack with Capa Ferro?
Rey: Naturally, but I find that Thibault cancels out Capa Ferro. Don’t you?
Luke: Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa… which I have.
Chewie: Everybody MOOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!!
Lmao then booom the island explodes cause of Luke’s epicness.
I have a feeling TLJ will be the best film of the Trilogy. I have a lot of confidence in Rian. I am not expecting a better film in Ep 9 because I think Trevorrow is least talented of the three directors. He seems to be a decent director (Jurrasic World was decent) but wish Rian had written the script for IX not just the story
I agree as well. Though, I disagree on Trevorrow. JW really was the studio’s fault and he had no control over what happened. For instance, he wanted to use more practical effects. But the good olde Producers at Universal laughed it off. Yeah, this coming from the same three movies which pionneered a lot of not only CGI but practical effects. Sigh.
I also recommend you check out Safety Not Guaranteed. It’s a pretty damn good flick and honestly, I’m excited for him.
As for Rian Johnson, he’s a personal favorite of mine. Heck, when he was annouced for episode eight, I was more excited for that film than seven. But it didn’t help that Abrams was directing who I cannot stand. Funny how some fans can take my displeasure with Abrams as a personal attack. 🙂
kylo ren scar is not on his eye like anakin… and its far more bigger
Even after bacta treatments?
well he used a ton of bacta then
Luke must have too in ESB.
Is it possible the teaser shot of Kylo is a flashback to the Jedi Academy attack and the “scar” above his eye is just a strand of hair?
Since Johnson said he changed it….no
It’s ENTIRELY possible, that it doesn’t freakin’ matter… LOL
The scar being changes by Kylo I’m not going to lie; I like and dislike. On one hand, yes; Rian is correct in my view in that the scar looked really goofy/stupid. It also pushes the idea of how strong a Lightsaber is cutting wise. But I know even in the canon, some Lightsabers actually have knobs that can adjust the length and the intensity of blade.
Though, Kylo very much seemed like he wanted to kill Finn off. But I digress. But at the same time, I think it would have been much cooler to have that scar. Kylo really wanted to become Darth Vader. So much so; he wore a mask and dressed in black.
Having a scar, would put him a lot closer to Vader in the menacing department because let’s be honest; he isn’t Vader. But, if Rian is smart; he’ll have Kylo’s scar be less of a external thing and more internal. To illustrate my point, in Marvel comics, Doctor Doom for the longest time actually had faint scars across his face.
It was really goofy why he wore the helmet, but really the genious of that character was that the scars were mental; that his mind was warped. Given how Kylo lost to what he perceived to be a loner/novice, I can see that aspect tearing him apart, fueling his rage like oil to flame.
And in that regard, I think the change works. Because, it is putting Kylo on a similiar path to Vader, but he isn’t imitating Vader. But only if, Rian does go that direction with the character.
Kylo’s SCAR will be a permanent reminder to always BE PREPARED!
https://youtu.be/Dmt45BF5SOM
Eh, they moved Kylo’s scar a little bit. If it’s not drastic and extremely noticeable, who cares? I’m surprised anyone analyzed it that hard already to find the differences – but I guess I shouldn’t be knowing how obsessive Star Wars fans can be (myself included). I really think it’s a non-issue.
It was hard not to notice and I think they tried to get away without having to explain it but its really noticeable because I thought the scar looked goofy in TFA. I agree with Rian, its just going to take fans a min to accept the change, then noone will even notice the change
Agreed. Really, I see Rian doing this as a bit of damage control(no pun intended) on TLJ. Because, really that movie pushed the believability of a Lightsaber, especially given how to my knowledge Rey and Kylo’s sabers do not have knobs that can adjust the blade intensity.
Plus, that scar looked stupid. And while the small scar is very cliche, as long as Kylo is scarred mentally and spirtually that’s fine by me.
I don’t see how this is an issue
ditto
Sorry, but RJ flip-flopped again. First he said the scar was in the same place (see tweet reply to Saim above). Then, he admitted he changed it.
yeah thats my point, he tried to downplay it but too many people just knew it was different. His tweet seemed as if he was annoyed by it
He probably WAS annoyed, because it was dumb. I realized it, immediately but, also recognized that it looked better… and didn’t require explaining.
Who cares?
The scar is in the same basic spot. He admits they adjusted it, to make it look cooler. It’s not a big deal; certainly no “Han shot first” -level drama. LOL
It’s reminiscent of Anakin’s and It’ll look better on the toys…