ST Rian Johnson to write and direct Episode VIII (and also new SW Trilogy - see page 194)

I really don't rate him as a director. His films always seem to lack any sense of scale, something that Star Wars needs (particularly the final film of the ST).

 

Not unreasonable. We did that in the past.

But that's all it was...talk. Nothing solid was ever stated.

 

I honestly think they should wait until Episode VII was atleast done with Production before talking about VIII and IX directors and writers.

 

Spielberg for IX, he couldn't direct Jedi even when him and Lucas wanted to. Let him put the final touch in the saga this time.

 

Johnston started his career by working on SW and ESB. He created the Boba Fett character, among other things. So what he has going for him is he 'gets' Star Wars.

 

There's two things to take away from this for people who don't know about Rian.

1. Looper is one of the most interesting modern sci fi movies in god knows how long.
2. He directed some of the best Breaking Bad episodes:
Ozymendis ( spelling?)
Fifty-One
Fly
3. All three episodes were episodes with fantastic character interactions and development and a great eye for camera positioning.

 

Duncan Jones would be fantastic. I am really digging this Rian Johnson news. All three of his movies were very good and his Breaking Bad episodes were the best. Seriously my two favorite episodes are Fly and Ozymandias.

 

Id say this is probably more Abrams not wanting his career defined by Star Wars. He gets to live his dream and direct one and then move on to other things.

 

JAMES CAMERON FOR EPISODE IX PLEASE

 

I loved Looper, loved his Breaking Bad episodes and grew up having The Right Stuff as one of my favorite movies that made me really feel like I was really part of the space program without actually being in the space program. That's great he posted that!

I'm so stoked!

 

This is huge news. A big upgrade for episode 8. Not surprising either, his stuff is more character driven.

I'm interested in seeing what Kasdan's role will be. Abrams will most assuredly continue on as executive producer.

 

Oh, I know that he's got SW running through his veins, and I will always love him for what he's contributed to the SW galaxy, but as a film director I just don't think he's got the chops. Give him a spin-off, I say.

 

I was kind shocked that this broke on a Friday... Thinking wth lucasfilms, this is Tuesday level goodnews, the guy is a great director for how new he is to big budget films and his Breaking Bad stuff is a perfect example why he'd be great for the dark second act stuff VIII will be to this trilogy.. Then realized the press broke the story before an official announcement, thanks press lol.

 

Jurassic Park III is to Jurassic Park what AOTC is to Star Wars. Just wrong.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think Spielberg is at all interested. I think JJ was the way to get as close as possible to a Spielberg directed Star Wars film. JJ will do his best to show us what that might have looked like.

 

Not to mention Captain America was pretty good and launched that character.

 

As if by magic, it will change.

 

void thisPost() {
if (he'sTheDude AND he can top LOOPER) {
thisIsPrettyAwesome
} else {
System.println("Let JJ do them all");
}
}

In all seriousness, Looper was an amazing film. One of a handful of films I've actually watched more than once (even Star Wars films yo) and it was a fine piece of work.

My worry I suppose, is will the further episodes in the GFFA be 'fine pieces of work?'

I can make a killer lasagne, but if all I have for ingredients are McDonald's cheeseburgers, then we have an issue.

 

This is cool. I had always kind of wondered since they never formally attached JJ's name to 8+9 if we were going to see a new director for each film like we did with the OT. I think having different directing visions for each chapter served the OT well being that all 3 had their own theme and feeling.

 

That thing that is interesting. He must have read the episode 7 script and felt it was strong enough for him to build on. Thats good news.

I'm interested in seeing if he is going to be forced to collaborate the script with some other people.

 

I hope so. Hopefully Lucas and Kasdan as JJ did, and maybe JJ as well.

 

Disney, in the press conference announcing they had acquired Lucasfilm. said they were going to have a different director for each ST installment.

 

Didn't Steven ghost-direct some of the Anakin and Obi fight? Steven already got his Star Wars Fix. My Theory is JJ plate is just way to full to take on this whole Trilogy. It just sucks cause if I really love "Episode VII" I'm going to want JJ to come back. I do like that they are giving "The Little Guy" a chance and not going with the same ol' Big names. But I would love a James Cameron Star Wars film. He stated numerous times Star Wars was the reason he quick truck driving and started working on film. But I know it's a pipedream. He's too busy doing "Avatar" 2,3,4,5,6,7 lol.

 

Watch BRICK first, then Looper. Both are amazing films. Looper is actually one of the best scifi films of the last few decades and contains a performance by a child that was so good it made all the award ceremonies look like idiots for not nominating him. BRICK was his first film and shows just how creative and strange his sensibilities are(It's essentially a 1940's film noir/Dashiell Hammett type story, including the dialogue, but set in a modern day high school)... it also shows what he can do with almost no money(the film's budget was only $500,000).

 

That explains why the notion has been in the back of my mind.