The Force is strong with this one.
Well I hope we’ll like The Last Jedi, because it’s director isn’t going away anytime soon. Lucasfilm made a surprise announced via the official Star Wars website that Episode VIII helmer Rian Johnson is developing a brand new trilogy of Star Wars films, and is set to write and direct the first of one.
Interestingly, this trilogy is “separate from the episodic Skywalker saga,” and will feature characters and locales never before seen.
“We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi,” explained Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”
Obviously I hope you like The Last Jedi. But man now I REALLY hope you like The Last Jedi.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) November 9, 2017
^He beat me to the joke^
These new films do not have release dates, and don’t forget, The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15.
There’s lots to take away from this story, and probably the biggest is that Lucasfilm and Disney are very confident in The Last Jedi. It’s no secret that Rogue One, Solo, Episode IX, and probably Josh Trank’s canned standalone film were troubled productions, specifically each having directors who apparently didn’t mesh with Lucasfilm and were axed or replaced during some stage of production. Per Kennedy though, everyone seemed to have no issues with Johnson, and are happy to have him work on more films. But not just any films, brand-new ones. New characters, new planets, and hopefully, zero connection to Luke, Rey, and little Ani.
We want a fresh take on the Star Wars mythos; a reminder that the galaxy far-far away is vast and full of different stories. Hopefully, Johnson is the guy who will take us there.
BUT.
Rian, if you need ideas, call me. I know you probably want to only have new characters in your movies, but hear me out: a Watto prequel trilogy.
How did Watto become a slave owner? Who did he date in college? Is he really Anakin’s dad?
So many questions need to be answered, Rian. Now is the time to give the fans what they want.
I’m not sorry.
