Rumor: Rian Johnson Might Take Over Directing Star Wars Episode IX.

As was the case after the Phil Lord & Christopher Miller firing, it looks like Lucasfilm is already exploring options for the replacement director for Star Wars Episode IX after Colin Trevorrow decided to part ways with Lucasfilm. The frontrunner to take over: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.

 

 

From Deadline:

Put Rian Johnson atop the short list of directors who might replace the recently departed Colin Trevorrow in Star Wars: Episode IX. Insiders said that nothing is done yet, but that prospect is certainly in the air right now. The Looper helmer fit seamlessly into the Lucasfilm machine, which is no small feat given the number of star directors who’ve been chewed up and spat out under the “creative differences” line in exiting Star Wars movies.

 

It should be noted that right now, this is still very much a rumor and nothing has been confirmed yet. I suspect that we won’t get official word until we get closer to the release date of The Last Jedi.

 

There are also rumblings that J. J. Abrams could be another contender for the role from The Hollywood Reporter. However, TheWrap reporter Umberto Gonzales (who previously broke the story that Colin Trevorrow was hired – and that he now has left – Episode IX) says that we shouldn’t take to much stock in that particular line of thought.

 

 

In any case, this rumor should suggest that Lucasfilm are incredibly happy with The Last Jedi, which is something that should reassure fans considering that Colin Trevorrow was a contentious pick for the director’s chair since the day he was announced. While we at SWNN believed Trevorrow could make a great movie and wish him the best on his future endeavors, we’re excited by the prospect that Rian Johnson could be coming back to do another Star Wars movie if his first foray into the setting worked so well.

 

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

101 thoughts on “Rumor: Rian Johnson Might Take Over Directing Star Wars Episode IX.

  • September 6, 2017 at 6:52 am
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    Johnson > Abrams > Trevorrow

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:11 am
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    I hear LAST JEDI is almost picture-locked, so Johnson could definitely be ready to take over immediately.

    • September 10, 2017 at 12:36 am
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      Picture locked but not necessarily score locked.

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:19 am
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    I would bet that TLJ is very close to being finished, and they could potentially get Rian to start a script very soon. At one point, Rian was going to write the story for Episode IX, so I’m sure while he was writing TLJ he already had a few ideas in mind for Episode IX. I’m fully on board with this decision.

    • September 6, 2017 at 11:08 am
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      The healthiest thing for him might be to write a treatment and have another screenwriter to write it for him. I mean… SW seems pretty intense and we need him to rest a little bit before helming IX!

    • September 6, 2017 at 11:08 am
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      The healthiest thing for him might be to write a treatment and have another screenwriter to write it for him. I mean… SW seems pretty intense and we need him to rest a little bit before helming IX!

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:25 am
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    If Rian is indeed going to return and take over for Episode IX should this rumor end up turning out to be true, then it looks like EPIX is in good hands.

    • September 6, 2017 at 7:52 am
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      Unless it’s a repeat of RotJ, though it wouldn’t be Rian’s fault for that matter.

      • September 6, 2017 at 8:00 am
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        “Unless it’s a repeat of RotJ”

        It’s foolish to jump to that conclusion at this point; we don’t know for sure, yet. We just have to see how this plays out when a director for EPIX is announced and how TLJ will perform in December.

        • September 6, 2017 at 8:01 am
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          Well our contributor Mr Red Fox isn’t planning to go see TLJ because he’s already seen the movie himself in the form of ESB (based on the news we’re getting about the movie prior to its December release).

          • September 6, 2017 at 1:52 pm
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            And? Watch it for yourself and form your own opinions.

          • September 6, 2017 at 1:52 pm
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            And? Watch it for yourself and form your own opinions.

          • September 6, 2017 at 5:14 pm
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            That’s what I’ll be planning to do to find it. I could be genuinely surprised if TLJ’s major battle actually takes place in the third act rather than the first.

      • September 6, 2017 at 11:30 am
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        As long as the Porgs don’t defeat the First Order, I probably wouldn’t mind too much.

        • September 6, 2017 at 5:12 pm
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          Obviously they can’t defeat the First Order before IX; otherwise, the story wouldn’t be as good.

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:38 am
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    Hope Johnson takes over. He’s one of the few Star Wars directors these days who stays till the end of his film…

    • September 6, 2017 at 10:30 am
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      So how did you like TLJ then which you have obviously seen already?

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:48 am
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    There seems to be a lot of faith in this guy, in spite of not seeing a frame of the film.
    /
    The powers that be are scurrying as we speak….I think you’ll be quite pleased by the conclusion.

    • September 6, 2017 at 12:24 pm
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      I think the faith has to do with the fact that he’s shown himself to be a guy with his own vision on his previous projects. Even among those fans who have expressed skepticism about RJ because they weren’t so hot on Brick or Looper or The Brothers Bloom, I haven’t heard or read a single person who thought that he’s some kind of corporate hack. Love ’em or hate ’em, his films have been pretty distinctive and original. On the other hand, the fact that there hasn’t been the slightest hint of any friction between him and LFL indicates that while he’s got original ideas, he isn’t a diva auteur who can’t work in the context of huge corporate franchise.

      This is a good combo: someone who’s got his own spin on things, but knows how to integrate that spin within a big corporate franchise.

      • September 6, 2017 at 3:49 pm
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        I understand, though I wouldn’t say he was without conflict throughout the entire thing. I could tell that from their body language onstage at SWC.

  • September 6, 2017 at 8:30 am
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    I am hesitant to get behind Rian given we haven’t even seen 8 yet. But I’m just so happy it sounds like Abrams isn’t in the cards.

    • September 6, 2017 at 12:20 pm
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      Amen! I still like TFA quite a bit, but I absolutely don’t want to see Abrams direct another Star Wars film. I’ve been one of those very optimistic fans: through all the chaos with R1 and the Han Solo flick, I’ve had almost 100% confidence in KK and LFL. But if they chose JJ for IX, that optimism would instantly evaporate.

      • September 10, 2017 at 12:48 pm
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        JJ is really good at starting a project and/or rebooting a dormant project, but he isn’t known for the dramatic continuation of what he started. People suggest “Lost” as something in JJ’s favor, but that is TV, totally different.

  • September 6, 2017 at 8:31 am
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    To reiterate what most everyone seems to be surmising: this is GREAT news (if true) for episode 8. when you consider the fact that KK has a very distinct vision for SW and has shown no hesitance to fire anyone who doesn’t conform to it, the immediate assumption is Rian Johnson has nailed it. With less than 4 months to the premier, it’s certain that 8 is basically wrapped, and if they’re looking to hire they guy who made it then he musta done it right…..and yes, I think KK has been spot on with her control of the first two movies, so I have absolute faith in her.

    • September 6, 2017 at 9:45 am
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      I’m having the opposite assumption about Johnson — that because of TLJ, the pressure for IX to bring it home, bring a satisfying end to this new trilogy is even greater. TLJ may be a bit of a disappointment.

      In other words, Trevorrow may have had to go because he just could not compensate for what TLJ is lacking. It’s not just a bad sign for IX but also could suggest we need to tamp down our expectations for TLJ.

    • September 6, 2017 at 9:45 am
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      I’m having the opposite assumption about Johnson — that because of TLJ, the pressure for IX to bring it home, bring a satisfying end to this new trilogy is even greater. TLJ may be a bit of a disappointment.

      In other words, Trevorrow may have had to go because he just could not compensate for what TLJ is lacking. It’s not just a bad sign for IX but also could suggest we need to tamp down our expectations for TLJ.

      • September 6, 2017 at 10:39 am
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        I have no idea where you’re getting that impression from. I mean yes, it’s a 2nd act of a trilogy, so there will be some things to tie up. But to assume it’s disappointing is madness. Surely they just want the best possible sequel? And let’s be honest most of us knew Trevorrow wasn’t the man for it.

        Also in regards to your other post about having not seen much on the film, I’m very sure that is an intentional choice and I’m sure there’s more. Just wait till it’s out.

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:07 pm
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          Yes, Rian likes to keep some mistery in his form of marketing. And, every report we get about TLJ paints it as a great, very good and surprising SW movie.

    • September 6, 2017 at 4:11 pm
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      I too am very confidant about KK reign on the franchise. Star Wars never were so relevant as it is now. And, a steady hand is a must to make so hard decisions, and she have it. To course correct, even if it is a unpopular choice (like the canon reset, for instance).

      Trully, Ep VII and Rogue One reached absolute success, so, she have the number and the facts in her side. The brand itself is ever growing steady, all aligned. Keep the good work KK.

  • September 6, 2017 at 9:03 am
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    Trevorrow kind of worried me originally so this is slightly good news on a personal level, but for Star Wars fans, this might only add to the muddle going on at Lucasfilm right now.

  • September 6, 2017 at 9:41 am
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    Just let the Uwe Boll experiment begin…

    It’s Boll time!!!! Let’s get Uwe to make this movie!!! (Unbeknownst to most, that last sentence actually rhymes….I think. Close enough.)

    • September 6, 2017 at 10:26 am
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      As German nativespeaker I am afraid to say that Uwe (uːvə) doesn’t rhyme with movie (muːvi) at all.

      • September 6, 2017 at 7:32 pm
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        I figured. Nothing about my post was serious.

  • September 6, 2017 at 9:56 am
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    James Mangold, Tim Miller, Patti Jenkins, Ryan Coogler, the Wachowskis, David Fincher, Kathryn Bigelow, and Steven Spielberg. Maybe one of these….OR…. maybe they should all direct it by committee.

  • September 6, 2017 at 10:04 am
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    I say this as someone who really likes Brick, but found Johnson’s other movies lacking in narrative coherence and sense. Looper was pretty good, though, and it borrows many elements that are similar to the SW universe — characters with telekinetic abilities and hovering vehicles. If you wonder what TLJ will be most like among his prior movies, I bet it’s Looper.

    But as I stated below, I feel that the firing of Trevorrow could be a sign not just that he was unable to put together a good story to give the audience a satisfying movie and conclusion for this trilogy, but also that TLJ may turn out to be a letdown. TLJ may leave things off where the pressure is really on for whoever writes and directs Episode IX. This does not instill much confidence in me for TLJ itself. (And, like Johnson, I do like some of Trevorrow’s work, especially Safety Not Guaranteed.)

    Lucasfilm needs to delay IX until May 2020, and start now by focusing on getting the best script together — don’t hire a director who also writes. Get a writer/writers to work on the script, people who are good writers who are obsessed with good movie writing, and who are NOT directors. And THEN hire a good director who works best when given a good script, and has a strong visual style. (I advocate the director of Tron Legacy.)

    I think KK has been too infatuated with the idea of seeking out young male writer/director types for these movies. Why? It’s her way of trying to nurture the next George Lucas, who when he was young was an auteur (writer + director). But SW cannot be a finishing school for young directors leveling up into blockbuster franchise moviemaking.

    • September 6, 2017 at 10:30 am
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      Here are reasons why I’ve been growing steadily concerned about TLJ:

      The teaser was underwhelming, weighed down by cheesy melodramatic dialog.

      We still haven’t been shown much about the setting of Canto Bight. Why? Is it because the whole setting feels too Prequel-ish?

      Same thing about the non-human characters — where are they? Other than for the Vanity Fair shoot, are there any non-human characters in this? The ones shown in the VF shoot give off a Prequel era vibe.

      The locations revealed so far seem uninteresting — Ach-To, Canto Bight, Crait, and Snoke’s Destroyer. Just how much stuff is going to play out in these settings, none of which, except maybe for Crait, sound like interesting spots?

      There are 4-legged walkers in this movie, and a battle sequence with them.

      Along with the walkers, there are no unique vehicle designs.

      It’s said not much about Snoke will be revealed in this.

      Also, it’s been hinted that we shouldn’t expect to learn much more about Rey’s origins. (Why are both of these things being put off with no deeper revelations?? Again, this seems to put too much pressure on the story for IX, which will need to both further develop these characters and conclude things about them.)

      The Porgs. It feels to me like they were ordered by Disney — put something cute (like Baby Groot and the Ewoks) into this movie that we can sell to little children, because the rest of the movie doesn’t have much to appeal to little kids, and lacks in other cool things.

      Johnson’s recent “admission” that TLJ sounds and may look similar to the plot of ESB, and it just seemed as if he shrugged this off.

      In contrast, Lucasfilm revealed new aliens, worlds, droids, and vehicles (the U-Wing) months prior to the release of Rogue One. The Prequel elements that were in RO were worked in in subtle and cool Easter Egg ways. All of this despite Rogue One having a massive reshoot done to its third act.

      Now here are what I predict could be GOOD about TLJ:

      Adam Driver’s performance. He will be the highlight in this.

      Carrie Fisher’s performance will also be a surprise. Leia’s dialog will be much better, too. This will be a great send-off for Fisher, and TLJ will make us miss her even more.

      The climatic battle could be set on Crait. It could be Rey vs. Kylo on the battlefield as the Resistance Ski Speeders and FO AT-M6’s are fighting around them. This would be the first SW movie in which two lightsaber welding opponents are fighting right in the midst of a battlefield, and not off in another nearby location. This moment could be like SW Battflefront brought to the big screen.

    • September 6, 2017 at 12:15 pm
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      The pressure from where TLJ leaves things off may have much less to do with its intrinsic quality than with the fact that it was made with the idea in mind to set up for an episode IX in which Carrie Fisher would act and play a major role. TLJ might turn out to be a *fantastic* way of setting up for an episode IX that sadly is no longer possible. This decision might speak less to TLJ or even how Trevorrow would have dealt with the anticipated situation, and more to an set of enormous narrative problems that were created by Fisher’s sudden death…

  • September 6, 2017 at 10:10 am
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    Depending on how TLJ turns out this might be really good or really bad news.

  • September 6, 2017 at 10:37 am
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    As much as I love Looper and its atmosphear (and recently i have seen Brick, not that good but with interesting camera movements and original plot points) and the good hype of TLJ judging by the images of the production (aliens, ships, costumes, characters, planets, story line…), i prefer to see the film first, and then make a proper decision. Its the final chapter of the trilogy. Would be epic and maybe conclusive. E9 needs a solid director (not a blockbuster/superheromovie/cgifest one, in my opinion)

    • September 6, 2017 at 12:12 pm
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      That’s totally fair: I’m with you. But I’m guessing they have to make a decision before the final cut of TLJ is 100% done, and certainly before its theatrical run is complete and the returns are in. Of course, the LFL big-wigs, including KK, presumably *have* seen TLJ, and presumably it’s pretty darn close to final cut at this point, so they’re in a good position to make such a decision.

      • September 6, 2017 at 1:49 pm
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        You are absolutely right. Good point.

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:46 pm
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      Either way, the decision will be made long before we get to see TLJ. This week, most likely.

    • September 6, 2017 at 4:53 pm
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      Agreed. Wait until we see what he is capable of. If anything, I could see him being the new screenwriter/ helping the guy that they got. But really, that should come only after TLJ comes out. And if it clicks with fans and the general public.

  • September 6, 2017 at 10:40 am
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    “this rumor should suggest that Lucasfilm are incredibly happy with The Last Jedi”

    Well, I have all my faith on Ryan Johnson and mostly sure TLJ is a great movie. However, even if it was just ok, I think LFL has not a lot of room for this. He’s the only guy who can held the Carrie Fischer issue with dignity yet bring a solid film, being already so emotionally involved and invested with all the characters and the story.

  • September 6, 2017 at 11:25 am
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    At this point, does anyone believe Rian Johnson will not be directing Episode IX?

    • September 6, 2017 at 12:02 pm
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      Rian’s the only one I want anywhere near IX. He needs to finish what JJ started and what he himself continued in TLJ. All hail King Rian. The Force is with him.

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:45 pm
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      He undoubtedly has some demands that would have to be met, like being given enough time to rewrite the screenplay himself. If LFL remains committed to their new screenwriter or doesn’t want to delay the film to December, those might be sticking points.

      • September 6, 2017 at 4:00 pm
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        I think he can accept a shared writing duty. It would be a must given the smaller time frame.

      • September 6, 2017 at 7:49 pm
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        I dunno, I get the impression that Johnson exceeded Kathleen Kennedy’s expectations with what he’s delivered with The Last Jedi. Maybe somewhere along the line Kennedy had the lightbulb moment that Johnson should complete the trilogy, but was contractually obliged to stick with Trevorrow. With Trevorrow’s script not meeting her expectations, and him leaving the project, I feel she’ll now pull out all the stops to secure Johnson, if that means delaying the project’s release to December, I think she’ll go for it.

  • September 6, 2017 at 11:51 am
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    I´d love to see Steven on that chair….

  • September 6, 2017 at 11:51 am
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    I´d love to see Steven on that chair….

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:52 pm
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      So would I!

  • September 6, 2017 at 12:07 pm
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    I wouldn’t be surprised if Rian got the job. I’m sure there was talk of him writing and/or directing IX when he was announced to be directing VIII.

  • September 6, 2017 at 12:10 pm
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    I felt a great disturbance in the Force and a bad feeling after I saw Colin’s latest movie. As a director of a Star Wars movie, Colin needed to prove to me that he wasn’t just a ‘flash in the pan’, he needed to string a series of at least three great movies, to make me comfortable with him directing the third film in our Sequelogy. I felt no such comfort and for a Star Wars fanboy, what Colin showed me was inadequate to say the least. I desperately want Rian Johnson to direct IX and I fully intend to make my wish known to him on Twitter.

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:59 pm
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      Lucasfilm takes that in consideration too. That’s the reason for Josh Trank firing. The company is quite protective of his reputation.

      • September 6, 2017 at 4:52 pm
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        Yes. Trank was fired because he was absolutely insane. He went nuts on the set of Fant4stick and Simon Kinberg(who is directing the new X-men movie) ratted him out to LucasFilm as he was working with them as well. And thus, he was fired from the production.

  • September 6, 2017 at 2:12 pm
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    Didn’t read somewhere that Trevorrow had input on a small thing in TLJ to be set up in Episode 9? Wonder if that is still happening, I assume no.

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:49 pm
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      Yep…..the scene with the T Rex chasing Rey whilst she is wearing high heels has been removed from The Last Jedi

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:51 pm
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      I’m sure that is entirely based on what it was and how good the idea was. Perhaps the idea was mundane or even good enough to leave in the final cut of TLJ. Perhaps it is good enough to keep for XI. We don’t know yet.

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:55 pm
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      I’d have to find the article again, but I remember seeing that as RJ shot something that CT wanted to put in IX, but it’d be easier for RJ to do it because of the location or something like that. Could be wrong though.

  • September 6, 2017 at 2:17 pm
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    Hmm this may sound stupid but as a writer-director, aren’t you supposed to be super exhausted after finishing a movie like The Last Jedi? Rian worked on this movie for the past few years and probably put all of his soul into this project. Now… directing a new one? Why are you all acting like this is nothing?

    • September 6, 2017 at 2:53 pm
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      So did Peter Jackson. His third film on the Lotr did pretty well lol.

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:01 pm
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      Just follow the guy on Twitter, and you’ll find that he has all the time in the world.

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:01 pm
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      Just follow the guy on Twitter, and you’ll find that he has all the time in the world.

      • September 6, 2017 at 4:09 pm
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        I already follow him. It’s not a matter of time IMO. After a project so massive, resting seems to be a natural/required part of the process. Any artist should take a hiatus between their projects to step back and look at the whole frame before moving on.You can’t just force creativity.
        Also, that would mean he would be directing a movie which he didn’t write this time. That’s both a downgrade and against what Rian is going for, if we judge based on his career path.

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:16 pm
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          Apparently 80 yr. old Ridley Scott and 70 yr. old Steven Spielberg didn’t get the memo about resting between movies.

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:35 pm
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          You can’t just force creativity? — Tell that to a student in art school.

          • September 6, 2017 at 5:19 pm
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            Well if he’s up for it, I’m glad, because he certainly isn’t a bad choice. I’m just concerned doing two movies in a row will make him less artistically productive. Kinda like walking into Da Vinci right after he finished Mona Lisa and saying “now do another one motherfucker”

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:21 pm
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      I totally agree! Many writer/directors get really worn out doing more than one huge franchise movie. Although this might not be the case for Rian Johnson, it happened to Joss Whedon when he did Age of Ultron.

    • September 6, 2017 at 4:17 pm
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      He can refuse if he want.

  • September 6, 2017 at 2:52 pm
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    Somewhere George Lucas is sat laughing saying…”You all thought writing and directing these movies was easy”……lights cigar

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:02 pm
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      George who?

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:28 pm
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      The problem came when it was too easy for him. Back when it was hard he made some pretty good movies. When he had infinite money and yes men… well it didn’t turn out so well.

    • September 6, 2017 at 5:41 pm
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      I have no doubt that writing and directing a *good* Star Wars movie is very difficult.

      • September 7, 2017 at 12:44 am
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        I think writing one is the difficult bit…..the directing is easy they direct themselves….thats why the director is easy to replace

        • September 7, 2017 at 1:04 am
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          Well, I have to disagree a little bit. Did the Prequels direct themselves? How much better could those films have been if a better director were at the helm? Yes, there was some suspect writing, but the OT had some bad lines as well. There were some great actors in the PT and many of the performances fell completely flat because Lucas has never really been great with actors. He’s a great idea man and visionary, not so great in the director’s chair.

    • September 6, 2017 at 11:37 pm
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      No, in fact he had to had to have someone else write the original crawl to ANH, in addition to his wife saving the film in the edit room and having to do massive reshoots on AOTC AND having to reshoot Anakin’s entire turn in ROTS.

      So he didn’t have it easy either.

  • September 6, 2017 at 2:55 pm
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    I’d wait until TLJ, but the good thing for LFL is that if they don’t like his E9, they’ll have no problem firing his ass halfway through shooting.

  • September 6, 2017 at 3:03 pm
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    Well, the chances are very high that it indeed happens, that Rian takes te movie. After all, everything indicates that ep VIII will be a trully great Star Wars movie. I admire that Rian is so passionate for the material that he wrote the script himself. And is courageous, bold in his plot choices. He could even accept help to write IX, given the less time he have now, but even so, Rian can be very successful.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e65e74d43d1a88604c3c51236cc8fd556a8fc50146deaa315923ded728d1f4c.jpg

    • September 9, 2017 at 8:04 pm
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      I disagree that “everything” indicates TLJ will be truly great Star Wars movie. Based on what we’ve seen so far, I see another “safe” Star Wars film. What are these bold and courageous plot choices? Including Porgs? OT ships that are more massive? Snoke’s pimpin’ gold cloak? I’m not intending to be disrespectful, but there’s not much out there that says this is going to be an amazing film. It’s just building up hype that will lead to disappointment. I expect a good film but it will be probably be safe and comfortable…. not bold and courageous. Bold and courageous would have a non-white female as the lead.

  • September 6, 2017 at 3:38 pm
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    That will pretty much depend on the reaction to TLJ. If TLJ flops, or, putting it in different words, is met with severe criticism for going against canon, being a mess, or having a weird script, then LucasFilm will dump RJ.

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:57 pm
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      But the chances for all that are very very slim. Lucasfilm helm the boat very close. The canon thing for instance, the LF Story Group checks everything. And about the quality of the movie, the actual internal opinions are very favorable.

    • September 6, 2017 at 3:57 pm
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      But the chances for all that are very very slim. Lucasfilm helm the boat very close. The canon thing for instance, the LF Story Group checks everything. And about the quality of the movie, the actual internal opinions are very favorable.

      • September 6, 2017 at 4:02 pm
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        Judging from Mark Hamill’s controversial statements on disagreeing with everything that Luke says in the movie and and his subsequent half-baked praise for RJ, I doubt how favorable internal opinions really are. Daisy Ridley’s comments that the story was “unexpected, but right” don’t sound encouraging to me either.

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:12 pm
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          Exactly

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:14 pm
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          The fact that he disagrees with some story choices doesn’t implies a lack of quality, only different expectations. I disagree with a few things in Ep VII (like Han coming back to smuggling), but it is personal taste. The movie is excelent. I am quite used now to this, to criticism rooted on personal preferences, not quality itself. For me, that was the case with Mark.

        • September 6, 2017 at 6:24 pm
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          “Since you grew up a “Star Wars” fan, were you intimidated to work with longtime franchise stars like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher?

          It took a while before I could sit across the table with Mark and not, every three seconds, think, I’m talking to Luke Skywalker. With Carrie, I felt we connected as writers very quickly. She spoke her mind, man. They both did. Anyone whose life is that weirdly tied to a character like this, where you drop a script in their lap and say, “Now it’s this,” there’s no way it’s not a discussion. But they were both so engaged in the process, and trusting. The fact that both of them at some point said, “O.K., even if this isn’t what I was expecting, I’m going to trust you” — that was really touching.” <<< interview with RJ

        • September 6, 2017 at 6:48 pm
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          I never once took Hamill’s comments to be negative towards the movie. I think the character just went in a direction he wasn’t expecting and it was jarring at first.

        • September 7, 2017 at 1:41 am
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          If Mark Hamill had any say in the writing of his character arc, I’d be scared shitless.

      • September 6, 2017 at 4:11 pm
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        Internal opinions aren’t fan opinions

        • September 6, 2017 at 4:15 pm
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          There are fans there too. If the thing were bad, something would leak implying that…

        • September 6, 2017 at 11:35 pm
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          No, they matter more.

    • September 6, 2017 at 4:50 pm
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      I agree. Even as a Rian Johnson fan, I want to see how TLJ does and only then keep him on board. Because, there is always a chance that TLJ will suck. I do not think it will, but one should always keep that in the back of their mind.

      But really, I do think RJ could be a good fit. I can see LF wanting to hire either a competent, established director or someone who is already in the LF/ Disney family. For example, if JJ Abrams was tapped; much as I would despise that; I cannot fault LF and KK for making that call.

      He did shoulder the franchise at the start, and as such I can see them going with someone established. Or they could go with someone else. This is a decision I argue that LF cannot be reckless about.

      Especially, given the most recent events.

  • September 6, 2017 at 7:33 pm
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    Stop being afraid to use CGI to resurrect the dead. Bring back Irvin Kirschner !

  • September 6, 2017 at 11:36 pm
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    I’m still undecided on Rian Johnson till we see The Last Jedi. I also think JJ would be great at the Finale.

  • September 7, 2017 at 3:04 am
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    I want a wild card pick. Steven Spielberg, Denis Villeneuve, or even Peter Jackson. I want ep9 to have famous established director attached to it.

  • September 7, 2017 at 3:32 am
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    “Game of Thrones” director Miguel Sapochnik (“Hardhome”, “Battle of the Bastards”, “Winds of Winter”, “The Gift”) is someone they should seriously consider for any future Star Wars film. He’s proven himself as a franchise team player and has the chops for epic, VFX-heavy fantasy.

  • September 7, 2017 at 7:38 am
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    Woody Allen is a director nobody is mentioning. He directed a sci fi film before called “Sleeper”. Also, Scorsese and Tarantino would do well too

  • September 7, 2017 at 12:03 pm
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    Sam Raimi – use the force . . . you know it to be true – it’s his time to shine from far, far away – the time is now.

    No-one IMHO should have the luxury of directing 2 SW films – we the audience should have the luxury of enjoying many directors. Rian IMO would be overly selfish in this case to accept another SW main film IF in fact he even does.

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