The Last Jedi may have been met with mixed reception from the Star Wars fanbase, but that hasn’t deterred Lucasfilm from backing its writer and director in future projects.
Speaking at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson publicly re-confirmed he will be “going back to to a galaxy far, far away.”
He will begin working on his Star Wars project once his upcoming crime-mystery project, Knives Out, is complete, per Collider’s Steven Weintraub.
Something else for #StarWars fans, @rianjohnson said on the #CinemaCon stage he was going back to a galaxy far far away after 'Knives Out'. pic.twitter.com/cnQn6u7n0P
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 4, 2019
This re-confirmation comes six weeks after online rumors circulated Johnson had cancelled his involvement in the upcoming trilogy, forcing him to categorically denounce them via Twitter.
No it isn’t true, I’m still working on the trilogy. With all due respect to the movie bros, who I’m sure are lovely kind bros with good fraternal intentions.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) February 14, 2019
LucasFilm announced Johnson was would work on a new trilogy, removed from the Skywalker Saga, in November 2017.
What’s most interesting about this announcement is the timing of it.
Knives Out is slated for a U.S. release on November 27. Only two weeks ago, further rumors circulated that Game of Thrones showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, would work on a trilogy set in the Old Republic era starting fall.
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It almost makes it sound as though Johnson’s trilogy and the Old Republic trilogy could be shot concurrently. However, this would also mean Johnson might be working on the beginning stages of his trilogy while Benioff and Weiss begin filming.
That said, while the future of the Star Wars franchise post-Episode IX is public knowledge, it’s reassuring to know Lucasfilm is pushing ahead with future projects. Johnson’s trilogy promises to “introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.”
No matter what you thought of The Last Jedi, the idea of exploring the greater galaxy, away from the core characters we’ve become so familiar with, is undeniably appealing.
Add this to the long-rumored Old Republic trilogy, and there should be enough Star Wars cinematic content to keep audiences compelled for a long time yet.
What do you make of this news? Are you excited for what Rian Johnson can bring to the series away from the Skywalker Saga? Or has your experience with The Last Jedi sour what hope you had for his future works?