ST J.J. Abrams to direct and co-write Star Wars: Episode IX (see warning on page 34 before posting)

Excellent choice. I loved his work on Jurassic World.

 

Why do you say that? Is Abrams against redemptions of villains? What if Kylo is on the border of being redeemed at the very end of TLJ? Surely the amount of screen time he allegedly has without his mask is a sign of his humanity.

Abrams invented and cast Kylo Ren. He's probably spent more time thinking about his character than anyone else on the planet except really helpless fanboys. I would think if anyone would be interested in seeing Kylo redeemed or at least his character culminating in the best possible most rewarding way (whether good or evil), it would be Abrams.

 

JJ's fate as a storyteller is really tied to TLJ. Because I don't care what anyone says if Han Solo wasn't in TFA like he was, the movie would taken a significant hit. Ford really carried that film. He was the glue who held the whole thing together and gets ZERO credit. Unlike you I do think our new characters have "potential" but it is just that...potential at this point.

So it's really up to Rian now to develop that potential since Han is gone, Carrie is now longer with us (RIP Princess) and I don't think they will make Luke a major focal point for two films. I think his role might be enhanced now with Carrie being gone as he could be like Gandoff in The Hobbit just randomly showing up to help the good guys win which is ironically how Ardnt originally wrote his character for Episode VII.

Rodie

JJ as always indicted he envisioned Kylo as the beginning of a villain's arc compared to Vader in the OT as it was the end of him. So I really don't see a true redemption story taking place but the death of Carrie might changed that plan slightly. Again I hope against hope Kylo becomes the Loki of Star Wars, a true anti-hero.

 

Guy directed the new King Arthur and it didn't turn out that well, so I think it's safe to say that he won't do an SW movie.

 

Except Into Darkness wasn't a Wrath of Kahn remake.

 

This thread is, as I anticipated, a total riot. I would literally place money on everyone posting this thread being in line to see Episode IX on opening night, regardless of how loudly they are complaining about J.J. or declaring that their fragile dreams have been shattered by this news. The complaints about TFA are staggeringly predictable at this point and fail to recognise that the film's greatest strengths lie in its character work - Starkiller Base may be derivative of the Death Star, but why does that matter so much to people when that's just window dressing for the duel happening between Rey and Kylo in the forest? I just fail to understand why people are incapable of looking beyond the most surface elements of these films, especially when you find similar repetition across Lucas's trilogies.

But anyway, to discuss the actual news - I'm delighted by this. The ideal scenario (for me) would have been to have Rian and J.J. collaborate on the script, with J.J. directing, but what we've wound up with is close enough to please me. I look forward to seeing J.J. finish what he started.

 

Of course I'm going to see it, because even though I'm not crazy about JJ, like AT ALL, I still have hopes.

 

I'm so disappointed they brought JJ back I'm only going to see it 10 times in theater. And buy every possible home release.

 

I agree that a scene or sequence after the initial attack against the village would have been great. Just a scene with Leia and some Republic senators discussing the political situation. Perhaps the Senators are dismissive of the First Order as a small band of neo-Imperials who will no doubt wither away, noting that the Republic now dominates the galaxy. Leia could respond with the Motti line "they are more powerful than you realise". The situation has been fleshed out by other books, etc. Basically the Republic, while smaller than the Empire and Old Republic, acts as a superpower with several smaller states that they are on good terms with. Shortly before TFA a portion of the Republic seceded and joined the First Order, who are now in a state of cold war with the Republic. The Resistance, is basically a proxy paramilitary outfit that can face the First Order without the Republic risking a hot war themselves.

Oh I agree. In fact I remember Lucas saying that with ANH he wanted to throw the audience into the world without explaining much of the situation. I agree that it's a thematic motif in these films and it's obvious that's what JJ was going for. However given that ROTJ ended with the heroes victorious, I just think it would have been good to establish that, yes, the heroes established a Republic that rules the vast majority of the galaxy in peace and that the First Order are on the outskirts of this political situation. As you say it's a personal preference, and even if it's just explained later in TLJ or IX, I'll be happy with that also. Ultimately it's one of my few criticism of TFA.

 

Honestly I don't like it. Like some people here said and I agree TFA just didn't feel like a SW movie. The only new character I remotely cared about was Kylo and that was because he is a Skywalker.

I have no doubt that JJ can make an entertaining movie, I like Star Trek, and I cried and I laughed watching it, unlike with TFA where I was mostly bored because it just didn't have that something that makes it a SW movie, at least for me. It didn't capture that feeling like the rest of the movies did including RO.

I don't know I just don't have much faith in him that he can make a good SW movie..

 

"I have a bad feeling about this" about sums it up for me.

 

JJ's storytelling issues go WAY beyond surface level problems. If Lens Flares and copying Elements from ANH were the only concern I would be jumping with joy. All his films are riddled with massive plot inconsistencies and inane character logic. The first two Star Trek films while entertaining are utter logic and plot messes and he has no understanding of how to wrap up the third acts of his stories as was evident on Lost and his sole Mission Impossible film.

 

Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.

https://twitter.com/starwars/status/907686475512160256

 

See what Nick Meyer, director of Wrath of Khan, himself thinks at https://trekmovie.com/2014/10/10/ex...ray-reacts-to-into-darkness-death-scene-more/ :
TrekMovie: How did you feel about the death scene between your ‘Wrath of Khan’ and the one in ‘Into Darkness?’ Some fans felt it was a bit of a rip-off of the scene in Star Trek II. Did you see it as an homage to Star Trek II? Did you feel privileged that the scene was recreated in such a way?
Nicholas Meyer: Well, you have to be flattered that somebody wants to sort of try and make your movie again. But the difference is between a rip-off and an homage is that you are supposed to add something.

This quote above perfectly summarizes the fears many of us have about JJ, and him directing Episode 9. And that quote is from established director Nick Meyer.

 

My reaction:

And I think JJ will certainly work at least a little bit with Rian, specifically for continuity. I'm very excited to have a character driven director and writer take back the helm to finish this trilogy. It's going to be emotional for sure!

 

Wohooo! SW and Christmas back together! I loooove this

 

this sums it up exactly and I know JJ's preference, so bye bye Skywalker saga.

 

I expected that.

 

Sweet! I love the December release date they've been doing.

One scene ripping off a scene from another doesn't make the whole film a remake.

 

DP.

 

JJ's not just going to remake Return of the Jedi, is he?

I mean, I enjoyed Force Awakens, but the criticism that it was just A New Hope again was a fair one. I let it slide for the first entry but I was hoping VIII and IX would move in a different direction from what the OT did.

 

I don't think many of you realize the perilous position Luke Skywalker is in. Sure you could've featured Luke in VII, but the audience absolutely would be expecting him to show up and save the day.

So your choices are limited.

Do you risk disrupting the new hero journeys of Finn and Rey by letting Luke be the top dog savior? Nope.
Do you find a way to incapacitate Luke so he doesn't pull focus before Rey is established as THE good Force user? Many of u would hate that.
Do you de-power him? Sure, Obi Wan was in ANH. But how many fans would then complain that Luke never lived up to his Force potential?
Do you kill him off? Let's see how you'd have reacted to that.

It's a little disingenuous to not recognize that Luke Skywalker is a huge story problem when he's not the lead. That it would've been very difficult in TFA to show a fully charged, kick-ass Luke Skywalker, in all his glory, which is really what Luke fans want, without it stepping on Rey's toes.

There's a reason why most of these kinds of stories kill off, send away, or incapacitate the wise, powerful old master.

 

What's JJ's preference?

 

Bob Iger to Kevin Tsujihara: "You have exactly 27 months TO GET OUT OF OUR WAY!"

I also think this is good for the brand too. 3 movies in 18 months is too much IMHO. It isn't Marvel where there are endless stories and characters. I love to see Han Solo pushed back too now. Keep the December date going through 2019 before Avatar comes back *snickers*.

 

May 18 - December 19

Wow, wait to many... Better to wait 36 months