Star Wars director Rian Johnson has finally given an update about returning to the franchise after years of conflicting reports on the matter. Concerning the ranking of Star Wars movies, it tends to be a common consensus that Star Wars: The Last Jedi comes in somewhere near the bottom, at least among fans. Johnson directed the 2017 movie to critical acclaim, yet the Star Wars fanbase was fractured in a way the franchise had not seen since the controversial release of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. As a result, Johnson’s plans to direct upcoming Star Wars movies stalled.
That said, Johnson was recently interviewed by The Independent for his TV show Poker Face, where the filmmaker was asked about a return to a galaxy far, far away. Johnson did not give much away, insisting that his previously announced trilogy of films did not happen due to Knives Out, its two sequels, and Poker Face. Nonetheless, Johnson at least addressed how he would feel if he could once again helm a Star Wars movie:
“I’m focused on making other stuff. But that wouldn’t rule out it happening down the line. If I get back in the Star Wars universe someday, I’d be the happiest person.”
Clearly, the controversy that surrounded Johnson’s last film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, has not dissuaded him from one day coming back to the franchise. After all, Johnson has always made his fandom of Star Wars evident, explaining why he would be thrilled to return.
What Rian Johnson’s Hope For Star Wars Means For The Franchise
The Filmmaker May Come Back
Regarding what Johnson’s comments mean for Star Wars, the answer is somewhat simple: he could come back. Given the sheer controversy that Johnson and many others at Lucasfilm faced over Star Wars: The Last Jedi, no one could blame the writer-director for wanting to stay away from the franchise forever. As proven by his comments, though, there is always the possibility.
Johnson reiterates his love for the franchise in the aforementioned interview, citing his experience with the prequels upon their release. This love is what would render the possibility of coming back to Star Wars a positive for Johnson, despite his current focus on other projects. To sum up, Johnson’s comments mean a lot for the franchise by opening up doors that were once thought closed.
Rian Johnson’s Trilogy Could Still Happen & His Star Wars Fate Could Hold Other Possibilities
The Avenues Are Numerous For Johnson’s Return
With Johnson’s comments in mind, it is worth exploring the conflicting reports that have been aimed at the filmmaker over the years. Since 2017’s The Last Jedi, many have claimed that Johnson’s trilogy, announced over a month before Episode VIII‘s release, has been canceled. That said, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has endlessly stated that she would like Johnson’s trilogy to happen, but that he was busy focusing on the Knives Out franchise, among other things.
With these comments from Kennedy and the recent ones from Johnson in mind, the trilogy is still possible. If returning to Star Wars would truly make Johnson happy, there is no reason why he could not return to craft the films he was announced to be working on almost a decade ago. Beyond that, though, Star Wars has expanded since 2017. Johnson has an impressive TV resume, which could see him work as a writer or director on an upcoming Star Wars TV show. Whatever avenue Johnson does or does not choose, he would at least feel happy working in another galaxy once more.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
