A slew of latest bulletins from the most recent incarnation of the Star Wars Celebration conference revealed the trio of Star Wars films Lucasfilm is specializing in at present. Though these titles ranged wildly when it comes to the place they befell within the timeline of this fictional universe, the range didn’t make sure the inclusion of Rian Johnson’s proposed trilogy of recent Star Wars films. First introduced again in 2017 earlier than Star Wars: The Last Jedi even got here out, these initiatives aren’t any nearer right this moment to present than they had been after they had been first introduced. Lucasfilm has loads on its plate in terms of Star Wars initiatives, however they nonetheless have to make room for Rian Johnson to return to the galaxy far, distant.
Why Hasn’t Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy Hasn’t Happened Yet?
While sure corners of on-line fandom bought just a little…enthusiastic about their Last Jedi criticisms, there’s no company remorse over that film maintaining Johnson’s standalone trilogy from coming to fruition. In truth, the first purpose for its continued postponement is a reasonably commonplace one: Johnson is busy. Less than a 12 months after The Last Jedi debuted, Johnson secured financing for Knives Out, a longstanding ardour mission for the filmmaker. That manufacturing turned out to be such successful that Johnson may lastly reside out his dream of delivering a mess of standalone homicide thriller films.
With that different rival franchise now in full swing, Johnson’s bought a busy schedule on his fingers. While preliminary feedback from Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy appeared to counsel that Johnson’s movies, together with a function from the creators of Game of Thrones, had been going to be among the many first initiatives launched after The Rise of Skywalker, these plans have clearly modified as Johnson’s ambitions for the Knives Out saga have solely grown and grown. With these productions maintaining him so busy, it’s no marvel he hasn’t discovered the time to decide to on a regular basis required to drag off a large Star Wars blockbuster, not to mention a Star Wars movie meant to spawn a trilogy.
Even with this comprehensible impediment in the best way of Rian Johnson returning to the Star Wars universe, although, it’s nonetheless unimaginable to disclaim how thrilling it’d be to see his trilogy lastly come to fruition. The prospect of this filmmaker delivering some new films on this franchise specializing in new characters could be particularly welcome given what the way forward for this saga on the large display is shaping as much as seem like.
We Need Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy Now More Than Ever
While James Mangold’s new Star Wars prequel will delve into characters and eras unknown, the opposite two new Star Wars titles emphasised at Star Wars Celebration 2023 are closely reliant on beforehand present figures. Daisy Ridley’s Rey might be anchoring a brand new mission choosing up 15 years after the occasions of the sequel trilogy, whereas Dave Filoni is helming a movement image that may conclude occasions from the Disney+ Star Wars applications, particularly The Mandalorian. The jury continues to be out on how these films will shake up or if Filoni’s wobbly abilities with directing live-action materials will all of a sudden vanish when he shifts to dealing with a $200+ million blockbuster. However, it’s clear the vast majority of these productions might be specializing in fan-favorite characters.
There’s nothing unsuitable with seeing identifiable characters in popular culture, however Star Wars has usually struggled with being too reliant on the previous. The Rise of Skywalker bought capsized due to a sudden detour into making the story of the sequel trilogy all in regards to the return of Palpatine. Meanwhile, Solo: A Star Wars Story bent over backward to cram in a lot grating fan service whereas The Book of Boba Fett was so dedicated to callbacks that the live-action debut of Cad Bane functioned like a pay-off to some earlier storyline regardless of Boba Fett and Bane by no means beforehand interacting in canonical TV reveals or films. The previous is commonly extra of a hindrance than an enhancement to new Star Wars storytelling.
This makes the prospect of getting one thing new from Rian Johnson within the Star Wars universe all of the extra attractive, particularly since his proposed trilogy is reportedly set to give attention to new characters and areas. His works will be divisive to some viewers (goodness is aware of some individuals will all the time hate his fly episode of Breaking Bad) however Johnson is all the time pushed to offer audiences new and thrilling ideas reasonably than fulfilling fan theories or long-standing expectations. It’s what makes his works so thrilling, they fiddle round with norms of genres (like noirs in Brick) as an alternative of rigidly recreating all the things you’ve seen earlier than.
That high quality could be extra welcome now than ever earlier than in Star Wars media. As followers stare down the barrel of an Ahsoka TV present leaning closely on the returning presence of Huyang, it is clear that we’re reaching self-parody ranges of Star Wars fan service. “It’s time to let the old ways die,” as Bradley Cooper as soon as crooned. Let that dying come within the type of a trilogy of Star Wars films spearheaded by Johnson.
Plus, these potential initiatives may have some thrilling casting that routinely justifies the existence of those productions. Johnson is a fan of bringing again actors he’s labored with earlier than in different films, like Frank Oz displaying up in Knives Out for a cameo after reprising the function of Yoda in The Last Jedi or Brick main man Joseph Gordon-Levitt being a fixture of Johnson’s works. The thoughts reels at who Johnson may forged in a brand new Star Wars film among the many actors he’s labored with in his post-Last Jedi works. Could there be room for Toni Colette? What about Ron Perlman or Stephanie Hsu? If the maker actually needed to bless Star Wars geeks with a present, Natasha Lyonne may have some type of function on this trilogy. Who wouldn’t need to see Charlie Cale work together with a galaxy far, distant?
C’mon Lucasfilm, Let’s Bring Rian Johnson Back to the Galaxy Far, Far Away
Rian Johnson is having a lot making pleasant homicide mysteries that it’s no shock he’d reasonably give attention to Benoit Blanc as an alternative of a galaxy far, distant. Still, Johnson’s consistently demonstrated a ardour for returning to the Star Wars franchise and revealing his plans for this standalone trilogy. If there’s any justice on this world, moviegoers could get to see that inventive imaginative and prescient as soon as he’s completed up a trilogy of Knives Out films.
Not solely would that be such an thrilling proposition for moviegoers the world over, however the creativity of Rian Johnson could be simply what the physician ordered for the Star Wars saga at this second in time. With the way forward for Star Wars in films and TV reveals persevering with to look dominated by pre-existing imagery and nostalgic callbacks, it’s time to carry again the man accountable for directing the perfect Star Wars film in historical past. Whenever he’s prepared, it’s excessive time for Rian Johnson to return to the Star Wars saga and shake up what’s potential on this franchise as soon as once more…particularly if he brings alongside Natasha Lyonne for the experience!