Discussion UPDATED: Game of Thrones Creators NOT to Write/Produce a New Series of Star Wars Films

This. The narrative has been that KK was on the verge of being fired, everything was going to be cancelled and Feige was coming in to steer the ship on the next trilogy. The articles from Variety and THR dispute this. This was a decision Kennedy herself made because of creative differences and concerns that they wouldn't be able to juggle Star Wars and Netflix. It also states she still has the confidence of Disney, they're looking for other filmmakers to take over the GoT guys project, Rian is still working on his trilogy and Feige's film is a standalone that will in all likelihood not be the next one out in 2022.

 

Hmmmm, did you read the Variety and THR articles? It's no secret that LFL has had trouble coming to agreements with creators over which stories to tell. The Lord and Miller firings were the most dramatic, but hardly the first instance of this. I know people are lamenting the "toxic fans" for scaring away top billed directors, but really it's LFL that's apparently doing this, at least according to the reports. It's pretty clear to a lot of us who've been paying attention since TLJ that LFL never has and still doesn't really know exactly what they want out of Star Wars long term. Until they show that they do, skepticism is probably warranted.

Rian Johnson is quoted only a month ago as saying "if it happens" regarding his trilogy. Are you still thinking the chances are better than 50/50? Nothing wrong with making predictions and congratulating people for being correct.

I think that for the last year or so, most of the people who think KK will go have been saying it will happen after Ep IX? And no offense, but weren't you saying the B&W was on track clear up to a day before they announced it was canceled?

I think these kinds of moments, where big developments happen, are a good opportunities to reflect on our assumptions. I think the major takeaway I'm getting is that A) LFL still doesn't really know what they want from the franchise, and B) their purported program if supporting creatively independent directors like RJ seems to be having a lot of problems. It's making me reconsider how much control he really had over TLJ.

 

I also believe if this trilogy still happens and it’s not our game of thrones showrunners not on it, and above all if it was about the birth of the Jedi, maybe it should be suitable for a tv show.

 

I wasn't referring to you, Pro, but it has been a widely held belief since TLJ and especially after Solo bombed. It's been suggested by too many people to count.

Yes, sorry. It was likely a mutual parting of the ways. I just meant it wasn't something forced on KK.

No. I said it had been confirmed by Iger that it was the 2022 film which was true. I also acknowledged things could change which was also true.

 

There has been a narrative (including in the post that I quoted) that this is further evidence of KK's plans being overridden by others.

Essentially everyone has acknowledged that since Solo their plans have been in flux, just as basically everyone has been critical of the way that KK apparently hires people that she eventually she decides to get rid of. There is also a problem with wooing new directors if they begin to gain a reputation of hiring and firing people. There has however been push back that toxic fans are having an impact as you've just done, when we now have two instances of it now. Both can be factors.

Which he has now walked back somewhat. I don't know if RJ's trilogy will go ahead. To be honest I don't think that LFL is sure what will be next.

I'm only disagreeing because the people you are 'congratulating' (and who are patting themselves on the back) made a guess that many others thought were possible. Their reasonings don't appear to be correct however.

I don't think we can just excise them from fandom and then declare there are no toxic fans. There are toxic fans.

 

Indeed. A Jedi origin story is too risky. Imagine if the origin of the Jedi was botched and turned off just as many fans as the portrayal of Luke in TLJ did or Anakin in the PT?

 

Well, I've also seen it suggested with regards to Feige's involvement too.

 

Of course I wouldn't, but the effect is there and it cannot be ignored or dismissed. I'll count the Game of Thrones guys as one person, but this is the third instance now where filmmakers have directly cited the toxic idiots who sent death threats to RJ and racial abuse to cast members (who, like it or not, label themselves as SW fans), as the reason why they would be very reluctant from now on to do anything with SW, or any other fanboy-centric property. It’s not good and I genuinely think it hasn't even peaked yet.

 

Heck knowing our fandom I WOULDN'T want to deal with us.

 

It's not even just Twitter either. YouTube has a lot of this stuff too.

 

And just to add, let's not forget that horrible people who call themselves fans are also, at least partially, to blame for George Lucas becoming disillusioned with the whole SW thing (yes, that George Lucas). There's a problem here.

 

Lol, are you calling me toxic? I'm not sure if I would be insulted or flattered by that. In any case, I think the affect of "toxic fans" on LFL's development process is probably minimal. There is a bottomless well of hungry directors who would joyfully give up years of their life to make a Star Wars movie. The key is to find the right ones, which seems to be the trouble.

To another topic, regarding the supposed "origins of the Jedi" subject of the canceled trilogy, that is a story I would absolutely love to see on the big screen, but I'm skeptical that LFL is in the right place to pull it off right now. I think they would need to turn over control to a director who's proven they can forge unique, sprawling creations without the heavy hand of a studio on their back, in other words, the opposite of what Marvel does. Del Toro would be my pick, although I worry Kennedy wouldn't be willing to give him full control. Peter Jackson could probably do it too, but he's got his own production studio and I doubt they want to incorporate after trying to move away from Bad Robot.

Whatever happens, I hope it is an aesthetic departure from what we've seen in the past 4 films, which is a kind of retro OT look. My wish would be they look to the old Tales of the Jedi series for inspiration, something visually wild, lavish and fantastic. Whatever happens, the next few months sure will be interesting!

 

No, I'm not. I'm saying you're denying that it's a factor apparently. I don't think you're toxic.

I think you overestimate how many people would want to go through that at this point. It's pretty vicious. For B&W it was apparently a factor.

 

The GOT backlash was incredible I admit. I can't think of any franchise that was so overwhelmingly popular one month, and then a month later almost evaporated. And it wasn't like GOT's popularity was a flash in the pan either, it was HUGE, and slowly built up over years, decades if you consider the books. Now, it feels like ancient history. I think prequel project with Naomi Watts has been cancelled? I can absolutely see why B&W would get cold feet for jumping into another storied franchise with big expectations, but I don't know that the situation translates to other directors. Also, maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention, but was the GOT finale backlash really that toxic? I remember that there was a lot of anger, people were pissed about how it ended, but I'm not sure when it qualifies as "toxicity" versus a passionate argument. Like, it's very easy to say someone is being ridiculous for getting upset over a fairy tale, but that doesn't make them necessarily toxic.

 

I am A Star Destroyer and I have no problem being swept under the toxic broom rug. That's only telling for people that use the toxicity master key excuse for everything.

On topic, if B and W say they had to quit, it means they quit. Not sure how that is mutual. I have no reason to dispute what they said.

 

James Mangold has mentioned that this will probably become a problem. I think he'd have some insight into the issue. Also GL apparently felt a similar way. I don't think you can just handwave it away.

Going after the creatives personally, their motivations, twisting stories against them and generally becoming vicious in your criticism is toxic I'd think. I think it's prevalent and a pretty terrible thing for fandom.

Except the articles which were posted...

 

I wonder how far along their Birth of the Jedi trilogy was?

If they had a story, and plenty of design, and negotiations with actors and directors etc, well, does it have to be thrown away?

Get in a director and go ahead anyway.

 

If the THR report is correct, they were still working on their treatment when they signed the Netflix deal, which was in August, so I don't think they got very far.

 

You mean the articles where the only official statements other than the author's personal views are the statements made by B and W where they say they quit? Unless an official statement says that it was mutual, I'll go with that statement. I'm definitely not going for the "got fired" idea, which is pretty crazy since they had total support from LFL until just 2 months ago.