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

Ah, thought you meant the schedule they're currently filming on. But like I said, Disney probably loved the new script rewrite idea, they just wanted to rush him to get it done in time for a summer release. Abrams and Kennedy wanted to take their time on it.

I'm confident that everyone involved in this project knew Abrams wasn't going to direct the next one only 2 years after Ep VII. Mainly because of distance from his family and his other projects at Bad Robot.

 

I'm rather late to this party, but I was VERY confused by the LR article. Are they upset with Abrams? Why?

On one hand you get the obvious impression of resentment against Disney for demanding the movie come out in December 2015. On the other hand, you get the impression they are upset with Abrams, but Abrams wants a delay? May 4 2016? No-Dawn of Justice and CA3 are coming out then.

Then the article moves to a randomly speculated storyline which isn't half bad, but is only speculation. They are excited about it.

I have to admit-I agree with the notion that speculation, rumors, and creating a story in my own head is possibly more exciting than the actual movie. Such was not the case with LOTR because we knew the story we would see. Same with HP (although they left out some very crucial stuff in DH). But with SW, our minds are completely open and everyone wants to see something else.

What I noticed about the very few clips I saw from Johnson's work and the discussion about him is that he has a knack for putting together some great plot twists.

That's what I gather. That's what makes me worried for Episode VII. Looking back at the prequels, especially Episodes I and II, it seems like they did one take for all the scenes, but Lucas spent eons on them. Will they have to reduce the number of takes for the scenes in Episode VII? There's already going to be skepticism about the sequels due to the prequels anyway. Risking not getting the story and acting right is TOO huge. Anything under $400 million for Ep7 will be seen as somewhat of a disappointment. If the movie doesn't make $380 mill (ROTS numbers) in today's dollars, Disney won't be happy. But who will they blame?

 

I suggest you look harder...

 

Ok I have to admit. After reading the article again, I have NO idea what they're point was.

 

It was very hard for JJ to leave his family in Los Angeles to film a movie in the UK. I think that's the main reason he won't be directing another Star Wars.

 

He should do another franchise!

 

He's in the film business and making who knows how many millions. He can fly his family anywhere at anytime. If this is truly the issue, he should be in another line of work!

To have abruptly left the SW project entirely after one film is strange. Come up with as many explanations as you'd like, it's strange that he won't be part of the writing, producing, etc. Nothing (as far as we know). It's very odd.

Yet Abrams and Disney have a movie to finish that has hardly started yet. If Abrams knew about this transition, then fine. We can speculate all the reasons in the world why he decided so quickly because it's doubtful that he'd be hired to do the first one, decide quickly that he doesn't want to have anything to do with the others, and not even be part of the writing or producing team. If he was given the heave ho by Disney, well that does have an impact on motivation for the rest of the time. If it wasn't his choice, they still have to finish the movie. So now what? Yeah he's a professional-but think about it. Not having writing or producing responsibilities?

Interesting that since all the turmoil with Ford's injury and naming of a new director/writer for Eps 8 and 9, there has been NO news whatsoever-just some rumors that are likely unfounded.

Behind schedule or not, the movie appears to be in a rather big lull at the moment until the powers that be sort a few things out. Let's hope that gets sorted out soon because if it takes too long they'll have no choice but to delay it.

Oh did I mention that they should consider March or April 2016?

 

Couldn't it also be the case that everyone on both sides (Abrams, LFL, Disney, etc.) knew and agreed from the start that he was being hired to direct just Ep. VII?

 

It's possible-anything is possible.

However, with someone like Abrams, I doubt they'd hire him to direct the first one and then have him not involved whatsoever in the others. It just seems odd.

To review:
(1) Announcement in October 2012 that Disney bought SW and there would be new movies. No known direction-just an announcement from Disney. It is slated for the summer of 2015.
(2) Arndt is hired to write in November.
(3) Abrams hired as director in January, 2013.
(4) Absolutely NOTHING for 10 months!
(5) Arndt leaves the project in November, 2013. A new release date is announced. Abrams and Kasdan take over writing duties with Arndt completely off the project.
(6) Alan Horn, in interviews, seems nervous (nobody can deny that). Says he's flying out to "check on script" (could just be to check on table read). However he wasn't in the room during the table read.
(7) Casting takes a long time and are finally made in late April 2014-a year and a half after Abrams hired as director.
(8) Filming begins and soon after we have the major accident involving Ford. Rush job with props due to delayed start of work?
(9) About a week later, Rian Johnson named as director AND writer for Episode 8 and writer for Episode 9. Supposedly this was in the works for a while.
(10) No mention of Abrams as being involved in Episdes 8 and 9. It would see likely that they want to get a jump on Episodes 8 and 9 quickly-possibly to film them back to back like LOTR or Pirates movies?

I really love the idea that they want to get rolling on the other movies and even the prospect of filming them close to each other. It worked great for LOTR. However, I find it odd that it seems like Abrams has been completely shut out, be it from his own doing or Disney's.

 

Don't worry, JJ will do the first Star Wars live action TV show.

 

I'd expect that both he and Disney had an 'opt out/opt in' clause. Without doubt though, although it's stating the obvious, either he wants out or Disney wants him out. Strange given his supposed 'love' of Star Wars that he's automatically want to part of the next films.

 

But that's kind of what I'm saying... if both sides understood up front that his was a one-film deal, there would be no need for opt-in/opt-out. So maybe us wondering if he wanted out or Disney wanted him out is all moot.

 

I doubt he was going to direct all three. Just this first one. You all realize that the OT wasn't directed by George Lucas, right? Only a New Hope. Empire and Return had different directors. Were this terrible movies?

 

It was never on the cards that he would be doing all three. I don't know where this idea came from.

 

I'd assumed that JJ would direct one film, but would be the showrunner across all three. I find it odd that they, Lucasfilm, wouldn't want a showrunner to span the entire ST. At this moment it's looking likely that JJ will have zero input to VIII and IX - and whilst I'm happy about that, I just find this approach a bit strange. Both the OT and PT have had the 'artist' steer of a single hand, and I certainly don't believe KK can provide that.

 

Who knows, maybe JJ will return as a producer?

 

I don't think so. Perhaps after working with Abrams, Disney and Kennedy realised that he isn't the showrunner they really wanted. If Abrams' vision for franchise is not in line with what LFL and the rest of the spin-off directors had in mind, the best solution would be letting him off the team.

If Kennedy and Disney stop working with Abrams for all future projects of his, then it is safe to assume that there is probably a relationship break-down during the production of EP 7.

 

Any particular reason why not? I'm not looking to argue; just curious about this opinion.

 

But they have the first movie to finish. Professional or not, if Disney, KK, etc realized Abrams wasn't the one they wanted, there's got to be a LOT of tension in Abrams knowing he's doing this movie under the condition that he's pretty much been fired a long way off from finishing it. Can't imagine how that would go down.

 

This might be the first trilogy where the stories are mapped out in advance. Also having a show runner might be a little limiting when you're trying to attach other directors. That said, it will be interesting to see if JJ is involved on an exec role as things develop. I personally felt that having JJ run the show, as some assumed, would absolutely be clashing/ doubling up with KK, especially when you factor in new directors.

 

This could be why the news is not confirmed officially.

I think for me, it is because she has never directed a movie or written one. There is a difference between someone who helps the author in his/her writing and actually writing the story. You can hire all the best artist and writers in the world to make more star wars stories, but if you don't have the ability to write any story yourself, pretty soon you will be losing control of them because you have no clear vision.

I disliked the idea that vision of Star Wars is now in a hands of a committee as opposed to a leader with a clear idea what he/she wants.

 

Kennedy has produced some of the greatest films in HISTORY so I think she has an idea of what she wants.

 

I think there is a difference between producing a film and actually directing/writing one.

 

You also don't get show runners in film. You have directors or producers. You may get Directors in a producer role - see Nolan at Warners.