STACK #157 Nov 2017

OPINION

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differences” – yes, that old chestnut. Or more precisely: “Unfortunately, our vision and process weren’t aligned with our partners on this project.” After these two strikes, it's abundantly clear that Disney and Lucasfilm have a very strict edict that governs the Star Wars universe, and if they “have a bad feeling” about their chosen directors, then it’s hasta la vista, baby. Which begs the question – why bother to hire filmmakers whose style and tone is likely to be at odds with their own vision in the first place, especially if the foundations are set in stone? Lord and Miller’s credits include The LEGO Movie and the 21 Jump Street films, which made them something of a bizarre choice to begin with. And Trevorrow’s track record includes the indie films Safety Not Guaranteed and The Book of Henry – the latter a critical and commercial failure. Granted he also directed Jurassic World , but let’s be honest here, that’s the kind of blockbuster that could have directed itself – the photorealistic dinosaurs and Chris Pratt’s dino-

New direction for Star Wars Landing a directing gig on the new trilogy or spin-off film doesn't guarantee you'll keep it. Words Scott Hocking

Rian Johnson (left) on the set of The Last Jedi

Solo: A StarWars Story

T he new trailer for The Last Jedi hit the web last month, whipping social media into a frenzy over the appearance of a cute Furby- like alien known as the Porg (who hopefully won’t be the next Jar Jar), triggering memes, GIFs, and lists of 'Things You Need to Know About the Porg.' What's more exciting than the Porg about Episode XIII – now only six weeks away – is the fact that its director, Rian Johnson, was on board for the entire shoot. With Disney and Lucasfilm making a habit out of replacing directors on the trilogy and spin-off films, it appears the director of Looper ’s creative vision was aligned with both the studio’s code and that of the keeper of the Star Wars legacy, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Directing a Star Wars film has become an occupational hazard. On September 13 it was announced that J.J. Abrams would be replacing

sized charisma were what mattered, not the filmmaker’s creative vision. Moreover, Trevorrow at one stage announced he wanted to shoot certain sequences of Episode IX on location in space (!) using IMAX film, which would have sent the budget into the stratosphere along with the cameras. In the case of Episode IX, Abrams is the logical choice to take over – having successfully awakened the franchise, and the Force, back in 2015 – and a move that further validates the no risk policy associated with the Star Wars films. The brand is sacrosanct, after all, and that’s the reason why both The Force Awakens and Rogue One possessed a circumspect familiarity about them which could quickly wear thin, if it hasn’t already. But after the debacle that was the prequel trilogy, we should just be thankful that it isn’t George Lucas back behind the camera.

What's exciting about Episode XIII is the fact that Rian Johnson was onboard for the entire shoot

Colin Trevorrow at the helm of Episode IX. Prior to then, Solo: A Star Wars Story ’s directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, were told to “move along”, with Ron Howard (perhaps a dubious choice?) stepping into the breach. And before that, Tony Gilroy handled reshoots on Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One . News of Trevorrow, Lord and Miller’s departures was followed by the customary Lucasfilm press statement citing “creative

WHO SHOULD DIRECT A STAR WARS FILM?

STEVEN SPIELBERG

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Nolan did revive Batman and did a stellar job with Interstellar , but his signature touch might be a bit too cerebral and non-linear for Lucasfilm’s liking. And it would be the first Star Wars movie to run for three hours.

GUILLERMO DEL TORO

JOSS WHEDON

Despite having said, “No! It’s not my genre. It’s my friend George’s genre,” we still think a Star Wars film would be an ideal opportunity for Spielberg to

Chances are that GDT’s original vision for The Hobbit would have been better

He’s a fanboy who proved he could be trusted with a huge blockbuster brand ( The Avengers ), and Serenity is a sci-fi classic. He’s far better off playing in the Star Wars universe than the DCEU.

than what Peter Jackson ultimately gave us. His affinity for creatures and world building make him a perfect fit for a galaxy far, far away. Give him a shot!

recapture some of the old magic and wonder that’s been missing from his films for the past decade.

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