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

I am also highly interested in knowing how that works! I've had all the same thoughts. Would LOVE to know how they did this once all three movies are out, hopefully it will be part of some compiled behind the scenes documentary about all three films on the Episode 9 Blu-ray release! haha

 

Add me to that.

I wonder what kind of constraints Rian had in writing. I have to think it is much more than usual; I can't see them showing episode 7, and then telling him, "Do whatever you want with it." I know since he is the writer, he made his share of choices in terms of the story, but how much? Did he have to check with Disney/LFL on his various ideas and directions? Were there situations they wanted to make sure were left or set up for Episode 9? Did they tell him who should die and who shouldn't, and how it should happen?

This is extremely interesting all things considered. I can't think of another situation like this really where a commercially huge and classic series was being added to using the biggest and best movie makers/actors piece by piece; what fascination as far as how it all unfolds.

 

Makes me wonder if VIII might incorporate more political ideas and perhaps include a return to Coruscant.

 

Right, completely. I was mostly just extrapolating from the "state of the galaxy" portion specifically which to me implies a grander political conflict.

 

What if TFA is an outstanding movie? Wouldn't you want JJ to direct the next one? I don't understand their thinking with this. Oh well, hopefully the other directors get it right.

 

I dont believe that. Trust me, if they showed him enough lettuce he would drop everything and direct SW.

 

It doesn't sound like they want to be stuck in the repeat mode. I think the approach, whether it is Disney's or LFL, is to give different talented people a shot in each film. That seems to be true in both Anthology and the ST.

I think the future holds enough opportunity that someone who really did a great job might one day get another shot, but not in the ST or the first 3 spin-offs. Who knows after that though.

There is always the TV shows upcoming, which I am REALLY looking forward to. I like Marvel's TV shows better than the movies (not a huge fan of the movies obviously, find them to be average action movies mostly), so maybe they will really have some good SW TV shows, and that may give the directors that made great movies an opportunity for more SW direction.

 

Personally, I'm thrilled by the multiple directors for the ST (just like the OT). I didn't get that wish with LOTR and the Hobbit, so I'm glad to be getting it here.

 

Don't think so. It was clear that it was his decision to not pursue any more directing responsibilities for this trilogy. Too much time he spent too far away from home.

 

Will Lawrence Kasdan still be involved? Since he's part of the vision, for this new series, would be cool if he stuck around.

Rian Johnson isn't the director that worries me, though.

 

For me, and like Raiders of the Lost Ark, A New Hope is pretty much the perfect fantasy/action film. It's great for all the reasons you mention in that it progresses the story in a very organic way... it's a perfectly measured film. And of course creates a visceral galaxy, that whilst fantastical, feels absolutely real. Somewhat ironically, I think AOTC follows the ANH template more closely than the other films (in terms of its pacing and how it introduces characters etc)... and because of that scores more favourably in my list. I agree about Chiang, he's brilliant... and I think TPM contains some of the best sci-fi/fantasy design and concepts EVER.

 

Agreed. Interestingly, I just watched AOTC last night, and I now think I like it better than ROTS for the reasons you mention (though Geonosis ultimately kills the film for me, and I just...have to fast-forward through the attempted romance...). On a visual level, it also beats ROTS. The Obi-wan and Anakin chase through Coruscant at night is beautiful, and Obi-Wan's and Jango's night fight in the rain ain't bad either. Just wish Chiang had remained the conceptual lead across all three films! To me, he's the true heir to McQuarrie.

 

I thought that Chiang *was* the concept lead across all three. Did McCaig (sp?) take over for ROTS?

 

middle earth needed del toro so bad but yeah at least we'll be getting different directors for this new sw trilogy

 

It was Ryan Church who dominated the visual style of AOTC and ROTS as Concept Design Supervisor/ Senior Visual Effects Art Director at ILM. Chiang was lightly involved in AOTC, and barely involved in ROTS (if at all).

I describe Church's aesthetic as a cluttered, formless mess (the absolute worst bits, IMO, being the interior of Grievous' ship and the Obi-Wan/ Grievous chase on Utapau). Essentially the opposite of Chiang and McQuarrie, who use clean forms, elemental shapes, and good composition. Church's stuff is fine in a vacuum (or in a video game), but IMO disastrous when realized on film.

For comparison:

Chiang:



Church:

 

yes but chiang and church's styles worked well with the theme of 1-3's looks transitioning to the ot.

tpm - mostly chiang. smooth and sleek.
aotc - church with some chiang. a combination.
rots - mostly church barely any chiang. blockier and straighter.

 

Disagree. If Chiang was the lead across the PT, I think the transition would have been much more seamless. Just because some ships started to look like OT ships, and clone troopers were introduced, doesn't mean the visual aesthetic in AOTC-ROTS were closer to the OT. Had Chiang been given the task of bridging the trilogies, he would have done a much, much better job. I'm sure of that.

In my view, TPM feels a lot more like the same universe as the OT than the second two films. And that's because Church's aesthetic is so radically different (and IMO, inferior).

Sorry, but I think that's a very superficial assessment of the design aesthetic. Just look at Grievous' ship, Utapau, Kashyyk, Felucia, etc. Church went haywire with all kinds of very busy compositions, that were not "blocky or straight" at all.

I mean:



Is much further away from the OT, stylistically, than anything in TPM.

The key to McQuarrie and Chiang was a clean composition, basic forms (circles, triangles, etc), and a lack of clutter. They are kin. Church is of another school entirely.

Chiang:



McQuarrie:



Church:

 

i think it's great.

STAR WARS II — RYANCHURCH.COM

STAR WARS III — RYANCHURCH.COM

 

Amateur video game art, IMO. There's just too much going on in the frame. Your eye has nowhere to focus. I would never have hired the guy to help create a film world. Especially not Star Wars.

But this is all a matter of taste. To me, McQuarrie and Chiang are unparalleled conceptual artists.

 

Good to hear it. I love the Geonosis stuff... and I agree, other than the picnic scene, I don't really like the romance... but AOTC feels like quintessential Star Wars to me.

 

And is't even more intriguing than LOTR would have been given they are also coming up with the story; we can only imagine what we will get.

 

I'm so happy to read official comments from Lucasfilm employees regarding Rian's input.

Rian is obiviously the brain behind Episode 8, but I've heard that he was also instrumental in sketching various story arcs that will be at the center of TFA as well