Colin Trevorrow Confronts Directing Concerns of Future Star Wars Films

(AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

 

Some fans and movie critics were a little on edge this weekend after the screening of Colin Trevorrow’s new film The Book of Henry in Italy at the Ischia Global Film Festival due to its mostly negative reviews. The question that was raised was: Should Star Wars fans be worried about Trevorrow’s capabilities?

 

 

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the movie industry is a little worried about whether Trevorrow is the right man to be helming such a big project like a Star Wars film after his new film The Book of Henry is receiving very negative views in the United States. THR sat down with the Episode IX director and he helped give some insight to ease everyone’s tensions and help convince them that he his the right man to be sitting in the director’s chair.

 

Not only did I grow up on these stories, like all of us did, [but] I think that the values of Star Wars are values that I hold very close and very dear in my life. I feel that the message of the way that the Force teaches you to treat other people and show respect for others, and the way it guides you through life, is really important to me. And I hope everybody would realize that that set of stories has affected me as deeply in my life as it has affected them.

 

 

It sounds like Trevorrow is really trying to dismiss any concern in his abilities by letting us know that he is just as invested in Star Wars as all of us fans. He also gave his opinion on the whole director switch up situation that took place with the Untitled Han Solo film and the impression he had on the film’s production.

 

Movies are very personal, and art is very personal, and for people to try to turn that into something that is salacious or something that will get clicks is frustrating and sad for me because I know that [movies] mean a lot to everyone involved. And everybody involved in that movie is passionate about it and worked on it very hard and continues to work on it very hard.

 

Trevorrow stressed a big issue that Star Wars has been experiencing since the Disney acquisition and movie productions began. Now that Star Wars films are being made during a time of social media and the internet, the potential to blow up and over exaggerate stories is very high. The first example we saw was the over exaggeration of the Rogue One reshoots. So many tabloid sources painted the situation as a catastrophe and that the film was in disarray; when in fact the reshoots were crucial but also routine to any film. Some people have become sensitive to any Star Wars film news that doesn’t show production as anything but smooth. Trevorrow helps remind us that the people that make these films love them just as much as we do and invest themselves wholly in it. I trust that all the decisions that Disney has made are made with careful consideration and great importance, because ultimately they care about us, the fans.

 

The rest of the interview with Colin Trevorrow is on The Hollywood Reporter’s website here. Let us know in the comments if you’re concerned about any of the recent directorial drama with the Star Wars films or if you have faith in Disney and Lucasfilm!

 

 

+ posts

70 thoughts on “Colin Trevorrow Confronts Directing Concerns of Future Star Wars Films

  • July 18, 2017 at 10:22 am
    Permalink

    Here’s the thing…..the negative reviews on Book of Henry, whether valid or invalid, have undoubtedly already gotten into Trevorrow’s head. With that in mind, it’s inevitable that his directing performance on Episode 9 WILL be affected. And with Carrie Fisher’s passing, he has to do double time to figure out a satisfying conclusion to this final installment in the sequel trilogy. So….yea. No pressure? Actually, ALL the pressure. Good luck, Mr. Trevorrow! 🙂

    • July 18, 2017 at 10:39 am
      Permalink

      How many critically acclaimed films did Irvin Kershner make before Empire or after it?

      • July 18, 2017 at 2:12 pm
        Permalink

        Robocop 2.
        j/k!

    • July 18, 2017 at 10:48 am
      Permalink

      Okay all I’m hearing, and based on the man’s comments in this article, is that he’s going to make damn sure he doesn’t screw up this movie.

      He’s working off Rian’s story and I think he knows how to close a chapter. That’s the easiest part. The hard part was Rian’s job. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy though.

      Jurassic World was solid entertainment, nothing ground breaking but I think when a director is given a lot of material and, dare I say, guidance, he’s not going to screw up.

      It’s great to hear that he has a deep respect for these characters. I’m sure he’s the kind of guy who really knows what makes Star Wars so appealing to people.

    • July 18, 2017 at 4:38 pm
      Permalink

      This is complete and utter bs.

  • July 18, 2017 at 10:46 am
    Permalink

    Jurassic World’s plot was was mostly on the studio. That being said, I’ll be happier if someone else does additional work on the script.

    – Pomojema

  • July 18, 2017 at 10:54 am
    Permalink

    I’ve had concerns about Trevorrow since day one. He just hasn’t proven enough to be given the reigns to something as big as Star Wars. While I support the three director approach to the trilogy, I think it would be in the best interest of the franchise to see Rian Johnson do 9 as well. Obviously we don’t know how 8 is yet, but I’ve yet to see anything Rian Johnson has done that left me disappointed. Everything he’s touched has been terrific, and the man has an attention to plot and dialogue that only the elite film makers such as Nolan, Spielberg, and Tarantino, have. If past bodies of work are anything to go off of (and they usually are) I’d wager that 8 will be fantastic, and I think with Rian at the helm 9 could be too.

    • July 19, 2017 at 2:45 am
      Permalink

      I love Safety Not Guaranteed and I legitimately enjoy Jurassic World, but I still agree with you. Star Wars is sacred, and I’d jump at the chance to have Rian stick around.

  • July 18, 2017 at 11:33 am
    Permalink

    The re-shoots and things that went on with Rogue One were hardly “normal.” They paid another director a reported 10 million dollars(maybe more) to come in and do 6 months of work that included reworking the film; re-doing large chunks, re-writing, editing it, etc. Yes, the film turned out great, but the “tabloid” reports seem to have been mostly correct. Nothing that has happened with the Han Solo film is normal either. We will have to wait and see how that turns out. But we shouldn’t, just because Rogue One ended up being good, ignore the fact they had a trouble production or play down the issues. There are valid concerns with Han Solo that people have. Ron Howard is a fine director, but there is nothing normal or routine about firing your directors mid way through shooting and bringing another on to finish or even possibly re-do most of the film.

    As far as Trevorrow is concerned; he made what looks to be a bad movie. He is still a very talented guy who has also made good movies, so I think Episode 9 is in good hands. We shall see.

    • July 18, 2017 at 12:20 pm
      Permalink

      Exactly! In the age of social media, people have a better understanding of the film business and the processes that it entails. Things that happened were the farthest from normal. I have no idea why this site continues to press the issue that it isn’t at all. (That’s a lie, I do. This site is in bed with Collider who is a mouthpiece for Disney. Play ball and say nice stuff or don’t get invited to the premieres!) Do people overreact to things? Yes it’s the Internet, but in these cases people concerns for things not turning out well especially in a controversial film such as recasted Han Solo film is very much justified.

      • July 18, 2017 at 2:52 pm
        Permalink

        I’m sorry, but your premise actually made me laugh out loud: in the age of social media, people knowsexactly jack sh*t about the movie business and filmmaking process. What they DO know, however, is that they have an endless array of places where they can bitch about a movie without having the faintest idea of what goes into a production.
        And, no, their “concern” is not “justified” because such concern spurns out of entitlement. Fans think they are actually entitled to something, when it comes to their favorite movie/tv show/franchise/actor. The truth is, they aren’t. The only thing moviegoers are entitled to is to pay a ticket to watch a product. That’s it 🙂 They are not entitled to establish – for example – “what feels like/doesn’t feels like” Star Wars. They are not entitled to have a product made on the base of whatever idea they have in their mind about how such product should be made. Pay, watch the movie, form your opinion AFTER watching: that’s really the extent of it.

        • July 18, 2017 at 3:38 pm
          Permalink

          Oh there is a very fine line between what fans want/demand and what fans actually entitled to, I won’t dispute that. I am saying that in the age of constant coverage and social media, more information becomes available so it does give people a bigger piece of understanding about how the sausage is made but definitely not close the entire pie. This is something that wasn’t available to people 15-20 years ago, but what the dangerous thing is what people actually do with these pieces of information, which I will agree with you the outrage and panic that some people post is so over the top that my face gets numb while reading it.

      • July 18, 2017 at 4:37 pm
        Permalink

        I would argue that most people don’t understand how movies are made, judging from the comments seen on a daily basis. Some do, but most are still blissfully ignorant.

        • July 18, 2017 at 4:39 pm
          Permalink

          Oh yeah, I would never argue the contrary, all I am saying is that there is way more information available but by no mean does that mean that people don’t use that information correctly at all.

          • July 18, 2017 at 10:04 pm
            Permalink

            That I agree with!

    • July 18, 2017 at 12:23 pm
      Permalink

      Good comment. What *is* routine is that Hollywood studios put out bad movies because producers don’t realize their product sucks until it is too late to fix it. Kennedy has shown that she won’t tolerate a second-rate film and is willing to take fairly drastic steps if necessary.

  • July 18, 2017 at 11:52 am
    Permalink

    I’m not too worried about the Han Solo film..it’s in very capable hands, & the leaked photos looked amazing, so that’ll be good. I AM very worried about Episode 9 though. I don’t think Colin Trevorrow has the experience or creative chops to match JJ Abrams or Rian Johnson. Not at all. Kathy Kennedy really needs to replace Trevorrow ASAP with a more capable, visionary director…like Patty Jenkins, Taika Waititi, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, or maybe even hand it off to Ron Howard again.

    • July 18, 2017 at 4:53 pm
      Permalink

      JJ creative chops??? He rehashed TFA to the point that it’s a joke. And Star Trek??? The Kahn spin he tried to pull off…no, he’s a hack.

      Rian is a different story. That guy has some creative talent!

  • July 18, 2017 at 12:50 pm
    Permalink

    The thing is, it’s not how good a movie is that draws the ratings. It’s how the pump goes on in the media. I mean , look att TFA. Nowhere on God’s green Earth is that move deserving of being the no 2 movie ever. Or Jurassic World, or Transformers movies. It’s how the hype is played in the media that matters.

  • July 18, 2017 at 2:10 pm
    Permalink

    Johnson has said that he has nothing to do with IX.

  • July 18, 2017 at 2:11 pm
    Permalink

    Throughout history there have always been production problems with any movie….the bigger the movie the bigger the media make out the problem. I remember when Episode 1 was a few months off release and the media were saying that 40% of the footage was out of focus and would need to be reshot…it sells papers and now click bait in this age. With social media these days all it takes is for Mark Hamill to walk on a stage and fart in the wrong direction for everyone to be shouting “MARK HAMILL HATES DISNEY!”

  • July 18, 2017 at 2:40 pm
    Permalink

    I don’t like all the touchy-feely comments by Trevorrow. You don’t make a great Star Wars movie by being the biggest fan or playing psychologist by trying to figure out how Star Wars fans think. Just make a good movie, with compelling characters and story.

  • July 18, 2017 at 2:45 pm
    Permalink

    Just let him do the job. Kershner movies weren’t well received and he directed the best movie in franchise. Don’t be so close minded people, you think that every movie of the director will be the same – that is NEVER the case.

    • July 18, 2017 at 6:00 pm
      Permalink

      That difference is that one is a good director supported by Lucas in his prime and the other is a bad director. I don’t blame ppl that love Star Wars and don’t want hacks getting their hands on it

    • July 18, 2017 at 7:32 pm
      Permalink

      Colin Trevorrow just made the worst movie of the year. It’s bafflingly horrible in every way. Irvin Kershner NEVER made a movie that awful.

      • July 18, 2017 at 8:53 pm
        Permalink

        He also made a solid one- Safety Not Guaranteed. The Book Of Henry was an experiement that wasn’t suposed to appeal to many people, he is not going to have the same approach to SW 9.

        • July 18, 2017 at 10:12 pm
          Permalink

          Safety Not Guranteed is thoroughly mediocre; both of his other films have been disasters. I see no reason to be optimistic for Episode IX whatsoever.

          • July 19, 2017 at 1:14 pm
            Permalink

            Actually, there’s a very good reason not to be worried about IX: Star Wars, and especially the third part of a trilogy, doesn’t need a good director, it needs someone who can do what is told, nothing more. SW is not art, it’s industrial entertainment.

          • July 19, 2017 at 4:56 pm
            Permalink

            true story

          • July 19, 2017 at 5:18 pm
            Permalink

            You have an incredibly limited definition of art. Star Wars is art. Every single movie ever made has been art.

          • July 20, 2017 at 8:27 pm
            Permalink

            If it’s art then its commercial art. Developed by commitee and made by a rotating team of craftspeople who answer to a corporate head who answers to a boardroom who answer to stockholder.

            There is no singular vision. No storyteller. No artist.

            You still want to call Star Wars art? Ok. But it’s not. Not really.

          • July 20, 2017 at 9:01 pm
            Permalink

            Art: n. the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture.

            You’re just wrong.

  • July 18, 2017 at 3:05 pm
    Permalink

    Trevorrow tries to convince us that he is the right guy to direct episode 9 because he grew up with Star Wars and it means a lot to him. Well, I grew up with Star Wars, too, and it means a lot to me. That does not mean I am capable of directing a good Star Wars movie.

    The recent issues with the Han Solo movie have given me faith that if Trevorrow screws up this movie, Kathleen Kennedy will step in and make it right.

    • July 18, 2017 at 4:06 pm
      Permalink

      Who decides what an objectively scientifically good movie is?

      • July 18, 2017 at 4:27 pm
        Permalink

        Kathleen Kennedy, that’s who.

      • July 18, 2017 at 5:27 pm
        Permalink

        I imagine the best way to approach it is by re-framing the question because while I agree there is no way to determine if a film is objectively good you can definitely tell when something is not working. It’s a loose example but I do a Sudoku everyday and you can’t necessarily tell what numbers belong in a box immediately, but you can get to the solution by determining what shouldn’t go in certain boxes.

      • July 18, 2017 at 7:39 pm
        Permalink

        This question is pointless. No movie in the history of movie making has been objectively, scientifically determined to be good. You know that. The audience decides what they think is good. I decide what I think is good.

    • July 18, 2017 at 4:48 pm
      Permalink

      Unfortunately…that she is the one. imo

      • July 18, 2017 at 7:37 pm
        Permalink

        I have faith in her, especially after what she did with the Han Solo film. She saw a problem and took action. It is easy for outsiders to blame the head person of an organization for anything that goes wrong, but this is really not justified.

        • July 18, 2017 at 9:44 pm
          Permalink

          Oh for sure. She saw the hell out of that problem…right after she let the film proceed for a year. Just like she saw the hell out of the R1 problems…after the film had wrapped and been assembled. She can see things well, WELL after they’ve already happened. It’s a Jedi trait. It’s why she appears to have such quick reflexes.

        • July 18, 2017 at 10:41 pm
          Permalink

          time will tell.

  • July 18, 2017 at 3:32 pm
    Permalink

    He seems like he’s not too confident about it. The force awakens had problems when Harrison got hurt onset. Rogue one with reshoots. Han Solo changed directors and now episode 9 has no faith in its director. Looks like the last Jedi got lucky

  • July 18, 2017 at 4:19 pm
    Permalink

    If there had been an internet like today in the early 80s…..

    • July 18, 2017 at 4:25 pm
      Permalink

      1977.

      • July 18, 2017 at 4:35 pm
        Permalink

        Early 80s is accurate. people wouldn’t have cared in 1977. After ANH came out and we were on to empire and Jedi, people were more invested.

        • July 18, 2017 at 4:47 pm
          Permalink

          Those were amazing times for SW!

  • July 18, 2017 at 4:43 pm
    Permalink

    I always liked Rian as the choice for TLJ…I never thought Colin was the right pick. But then again, I’ve disagreed with almost everything they have done since the killing of the EU. Sour grapes I suppose, but I will say that what I have seen thus far has been a sub standard product compared to the EU.

    Yes, I know the EU had a few bad stories. But we could have gotten some badass characters that were already fully developed with years of rich history. Instead we are getting shadows of the characters from the EU.

    IMO!

    • July 18, 2017 at 7:49 pm
      Permalink

      Edit: The EU had a few good stories, not a few bad ones.

      • July 18, 2017 at 10:57 pm
        Permalink

        90-95% good stories in the EU. How many does the new canon have that’s been good? Or let’s put it this way…how many of the good new canon used large components of the EU?
        Since those good ideas turned out by using EU concepts or were based on characters from the EU, just imagine how well actual EU stories and characters would have done on the big screen?

        I mean characters like,
        Jacen, Jaina, Ben Skywalker …Kyle Katarn, all of the Jedi masters in the new order, YVH droids, lost planet of sith, imperial remnant, the beginning of quest Knights for mortis….the list could go on for a long time.

        list me the great characters of the new canon…Snap Wexly? Kylo? (a very poor shadow of what Jacen was), Rey is the best of them all and she is a mixture of characters from the EU and none of their equal.

        sorry, got carried away….lol

        • July 18, 2017 at 11:23 pm
          Permalink

          There were certain parameters in which new characters had to fit given the Light and Dark, Rebels and Empire, and the fact that it’s a Skywalker story. The thing is, you’re talking characters now when this was originally about stories. With the exception of Zahn and Luceno, not much of the EU felt like Star Wars. It was generally hack writers cheapen in the brand with uninspired stories. If you had mentioned those two writers, I’d have been on board, but you omitted the best old EU characters like Mara Jade and Thrawn.

          • July 18, 2017 at 11:31 pm
            Permalink

            I hated the Vong… with a passion. I always feel when a sci-fi series has to bring in an extra galactic threat… they’ve jumped the shark.

            Totally agree that some sizable portions of the EU did not feel like Star Wars at all.

          • July 18, 2017 at 11:49 pm
            Permalink

            no, I said there were many… and those you mentioned are at the top of my list as well! Hopefully a full blown Mara will still make a showing in episode 8!
            Stories…that was the best part of the EU! Hack writers??? Like who? Christie? Miller? Anderson? Allston? Are you kidding me??? Amazing, creative stories that blow this new canon to pieces!

            what does the new canon have in authors and good stories? Wendig?

            Hell, they had to bring back Luceno and Zahn to keep the ship from sinking, caused by the new story group that Lucasfilm created. And now they finally got Christie back involved. The only good new canon auther is Claudia…

            you’re gonna have to do better…

          • July 19, 2017 at 12:01 am
            Permalink

            You’re all over the place. I never mentioned the new EU. I haven’t liked most of the new books.

          • July 19, 2017 at 12:04 am
            Permalink

            you are correct, my apologies…a couple of beers and mention of the EU gets me all on my soap box! lol!

  • July 18, 2017 at 4:59 pm
    Permalink

    The Force teaches us how to treat and show respect to other people?
    What are you even talking about, Colin? Even if that vague bit of hyperbole were true…that’s his convincing argument that he’s the right guy? That he believes that Star Wars is about the Force teaching us to be nice?

    Not only is this a weak answer to the actual question…but I’m struggling to find any “truth” to the idea…the Force is power, not a teacher. Yoda is a teacher. (also people who use the Force usually end up killing people at some point)…the Force never teaches Luke to “show respect for others”.

    I don’t think Colin is doing himself any favors with these types of comments. A better answer would be, “we have a great team, and we all love Star Wars, and I can’t wait to start shooting!”.

    But being a Star Wars fan and having a fringe idea of what the Force is/does, doesn’t qualify one as a good movie director. Good movies do.

    I get that if you’ve got people in your face all the time asking you questions, that your answers aren’t always going to be great…but come on Colin. You can convince better than that.

  • July 18, 2017 at 5:54 pm
    Permalink

    I’m not worried about Trevorrow directing Episode IX. He is completely capable of handling the directing duties. I am concerned about the script. Colin doesn’t have a single impressive writing credit to his name and his writing partner is hit or miss. Let’s hope Lucasfilm brings in additional writers to look over the script. I feel like Rian Johnson has already done the heavy lifting for this trilogy and all they need to do is put the ball over the line. Oh yeah, and figure out what to do about Leia.

  • July 18, 2017 at 5:55 pm
    Permalink

    Yea very nervous about this Colin guy. He has a short on Vimeo that’s suuuuuper bad. It’s about a guy that has sex with his girls mom as revenge. Pretty poor judgment

  • July 18, 2017 at 5:58 pm
    Permalink

    neill blomkamp has the force, call him now!

    • July 18, 2017 at 6:42 pm
      Permalink

      Can you imagine the coolness of that? I want to see what his cantina scene would look like.

    • July 18, 2017 at 7:07 pm
      Permalink

      No. Just no.

  • July 18, 2017 at 6:15 pm
    Permalink

    They’re not using Rian Johnson’s Episode 9 treatment. It’s doubtful there was really ever a treatment from him.

  • July 18, 2017 at 7:11 pm
    Permalink

    Kennedy was ADAMANT that Trevorrow was the best man for the job. Trevorrow is on record saying that he wasn’t ready to tackle a Star Wars movie (not long before he signed the contract). IF Episode 9 ends up being lackluster, the ‘powers that be’ might want to seriously question Kathleen Kennedy’s judgement and have a long talk with her about it. Hopefully that won’t have to happen and Ep. 9 is a really good movie. Kennedy is not an idiot, but she’s able to stumble at some point.

  • July 18, 2017 at 8:23 pm
    Permalink

    Until Disney releases a single sub-par Star Wars film, which in my opinion they haven’t, I’m not going to get worked up or worried about it. There’s bigger stuff to think about right now, like our entire global geopolitical situation going to shit and/or the environment heavily destabilizing over the next century. I’m just glad we get any new Star Wars at all, let alone good stuff. I’m not going to judge anything until I see it for myself.

    • July 18, 2017 at 11:19 pm
      Permalink

      Why wait for them to release a sub-par Star Wars film? There’s a first for everything and it’s bound to happen at some point (probably sooner than later). Time to reign this in before it spirals out of control.

      • July 19, 2017 at 1:19 am
        Permalink

        He said he’s not going to worry until it happens. There’s nothing he or you or I can do about it beforehand. If they release a subpar movie we can at least speak with our dollars by not seeing it multiple times, not buying the merchandise and not buying the home release. As for reigning it it before it gets bad, that’s Lucasfilm’s and Disney’s concern.

    • July 18, 2017 at 11:26 pm
      Permalink

      I agree with you and Colin’s point about social media. As fans, there’s nothing we can do with all this inside information. The only thing it can do is taint our opinion going in to see the movies for the first time. In my opinion, the movies deserve to be judged on their own merits, not on us knowing they switched directors a year before it was released or how much money a director’s previous film made.

  • July 18, 2017 at 11:25 pm
    Permalink

    The guy did Jurassic World, need I say more?

  • July 18, 2017 at 11:27 pm
    Permalink

    Having passion for something doesn’t guarantee you have an ability to execute something relating to it. For instance… I promise you I have a GREAT passion for Star Wars but would probably be quite terrible at directing a movie.

    I think it’s totally valid to look at his directing work and be worried. As that’s the evidence one could actually use to calculate his ability to tell a story through cinema.

    All that said… I’m not completely afraid as I know one director is not the only factor when it comes to these movies. A lot of people shape Star Wars. I don’t think they’ll let a questionable director sink their mighty franchise. Look at Han Solo and even Josh Trank. If they have concerns. He’ll be gone or have another director come in and help finish it.

  • July 20, 2017 at 8:23 pm
    Permalink

    Hey, it’s never too late to fire him.

  • July 29, 2017 at 4:25 am
    Permalink

    Realistically, Disney doesn’t have to worry about how good Ep 9 is. It’s the final chapter of a trilogy, audiences are going to pay to see how it ends no matter what, and we all know their only real concern is making their money.

Comments are closed.

LATEST POSTS ON MOVIE NEWS NET