Empire Reveals New Image from The Last Jedi + Rian Johnson Discusses His Experience With Lucasfilm

Empire just released an exclusive image from their October issue which will include an eight-page feature on The Last Jedi. The image features Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) in the vibrant creature-filled casino on Canto Bight, a new location that plays an important part in the film’s second act. Empire also spoke with the movie’s director, Rian Johnson, who talked about the location, as well as his experience working with Lucasfilm.

 

(source: Empire Online):

 

Empire mentions that Canto Bight is a city on the new planet Cantonica. You may recognize this name as it was revealed a month ago via a leaked image of a toy package. Johnson went on to describe the environment as being completely different from a lot of the other locations in Star Wars:

 

 

“I wanted a new environment that was like dunking your head in a cool bath of water, right in the middle of movie,” explains Johnson. “Apart from the prequels, all the touchstones that make something feel like Star Wars have to do with griminess and dirt. I wanted to do something completely different.”

 

Johnson also talked about the freedom he had in making The Last Jedi his own way. He also revealed that in contrast to the common perception of the films where everyone seems to think everything is all planed out on a sheet of paper in advance, he wasn’t actually given an outline of where the movie should go or what beats he needed to hit along the way:

 

“It really was just, ‘Okay, what’s next?’”

 

Johnson went on to describe his experience working with Lucasfilm as “incredible”, stating that the whole thing felt “bizarrely similar” to his experience making LooperBrick, or The Brothers Bloom.

 

It is certainly good to hear Johnson once again giving positive feedback on working with LFL. I wouldn’t be surprised if he jumps on the opportunity to continue working with the company on Episode IX, given his rapport with them already and considering the exit of Trevorrow that was announced yesterday.

 

Catch Empire‘s full October issue when it goes on sale tomorrow.

 

 

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Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

Jordan Pate (Hard Case)

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

14 thoughts on “Empire Reveals New Image from The Last Jedi + Rian Johnson Discusses His Experience With Lucasfilm

  • September 6, 2017 at 4:06 pm
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    I’ve got a good feeling about this.

  • September 6, 2017 at 4:15 pm
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    due to lack of a trailer (and lack of a reason for lack of a trailer), im soooo into this new pic!

    • September 6, 2017 at 6:16 pm
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      Well, if you look at patterns, look at when TFA released the trailers. The 2nd teaser was was April 16th 2015, and the trailer dropped October 19th. With TLJ, the teaser was April 14 2017. I would expect the next one in October next month. Believe me, I’m as excited as you are and want it to come sooner rather than later, but I think we’ll get it in mid October, maybe the 15th or 16th if I were to put money on it.

      I just want to say in advance that I have no knowledge of this other than the research and guesswork that I have made.

  • September 6, 2017 at 4:58 pm
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    If Johnson has had as easy of an experience with Lucasfilm as he’s been claiming and Lucasfilm is happy with his worth then it just seems perfect for him to direct Episode IX as well. I was disappointed to hear that he didn’t write the treatment when that was revealed. I hope that he can finish out the trilogy and bring a wrap to these character arcs.

  • September 6, 2017 at 5:50 pm
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    Wow, what a great timing…

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:30 pm
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    Liking pimple-head alien. Doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:58 pm
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    I do love the concept of Canto Bight as it very much reminds me of Cato Nemiodia as showcased in Force Unleashed II. A wealthy upscale planet that is very reminiscent to something like Monte Carlo, namely the Casinos and the decadence. And I think that is a cool idea as it leads us to get us a perspective of what the galaxy is.

    Because, really; what were the new worlds TFA provided: Jakku, Takodana, and Starkiller base and Ach-too if you count the end. Okay, fine, but really one is just Tattooine light, the other was Endor and Starkiller, well, was Hoth with trees.

    Canto while being similiar to Bespin could give us a sense of what the political situation is going on during the galaxy. I mean, jeez, Hosian Prime was wiped out. That has got to send some massive shockwaves throughout the entire galaxy.

    As for the creator control thing, on one hand I get why LF is doing this. They want heat off of them after Trevorrow and Episode Nine. But unless we have received evidence to the contrary, this movie very much seems like Rian’s movie. Whether or not that will be good/ the feared ESB remake remains to be seen. But I am relatively confident in TLJ.

    • September 7, 2017 at 6:49 am
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      So Abu Dhabi is Tunisia light, Iceland is Norway with trees, and there’s no difference between the redwood forests of California and the Lake District of England. Got it.

      • September 7, 2017 at 7:42 am
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        Your attempts to bring up examples as an attempt to justify TFA’s planets is pedantic at best. Indeed, yes; there are many biomes on earth that can be generalized into categories: Forests, Deserts etc. But really, if LF was so insistent on going to real world locations, why not pick new ones? For example, why did Jakku have to be a desert? Wouldn’t a Tundra or Grassland be more suited? I will give credit for Skelig Michael, though. But really, compared to RO; I find the worlds of TFA just really dull.

  • September 6, 2017 at 9:42 pm
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    I love those aliens in the background. That blob is hilariously perfect.

    • September 6, 2017 at 11:13 pm
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      Not to mention that fugly dog on her arm 😀

  • September 7, 2017 at 12:28 am
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    times have changed, I’m looking at this and thinking “token Chinese person”

    • September 7, 2017 at 5:40 am
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      I think she’s Korean dude.

      • September 7, 2017 at 6:27 am
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        No, she’s an American from San Diego. But since her last name is Vietnamese, presumably her family emigrated from there some time in the past.

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