Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director Rian Johnson Is A Fan Again
Rian Johnson, the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi — a.k.a. Episode 8 — says, “I am a fan again…”
Currently on the press tour for his upcoming film, Knives Out, Johnson told Bang Showbiz he’s very much looking forward to Episode 9.
EXCLUSIVE: Rian Johnson says he is a Star Wars fan again! @starwars @starwars_facts @SWTheory66 #RianJohnson #StarWars #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/XoNZWdqeKQ
— BANG Showbiz (@BANGShowbiz) October 9, 2019
However, and no matter what side of the love/hate relationship Star Wars fans have with Rian’s film, it was clear to see Johnson was non-committal in terms of a future in a galaxy far, far away.
The Last Jedi, Johnson’s Last?
Yahoo Entertainment’s Gregory Wakeman reported:
Ahead of the release of The Last Jedi Lucasfilm announced that Johnson was already developing a brand new trilogy of Star Wars films, which would be set in a different corner of the galaxy far, far away and would revolve around all-new characters.
In the years since, Johnson has remained pretty tight-lipped about his idea, simply repeating that he is working on the scripts and never gave any indication that the films wouldn’t see the light of the day.
That was until BANG Showbiz asked Johnson whether he had any plans to return to the Star Wars franchise, which provoked him to respond, “We’ll see. I am still talking to Lucasfilm, and they are figuring out what they are doing. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be thrilled if it happens. I am working on my own stuff, too.”
Too Much Too Soon?
Yahoo pointed out that Bob Iger himself said that Disney might have pushed the limits of the franchise with so many films so quickly. However, and although Johnson’s film was quite polarizing (in a way quite similar to The Empire Strikes Back, IMHO), the film did $1,332,539,889 in business at the box office.
And, despite throttling attempts by disgruntled “fans,” Episode 8 has a 91% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, a recent report about Kevin Feige looking to produce a Star Wars film, as well as Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss being in the mix, could certainly cast doubt on Johnson being back in the director’s chair.
But until that’s decided, you’ll find Johnson at the cineplex.
“I get to just be a movie fan,” said Johnson to the cameras. “And I am so excited.
“I watched that last [Star Wars] trailer and I was just like…squealing.”