Director Rian Johnson, known for his work on “Knives Out” and 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” has spoken openly about the Star Wars trilogy he was once set to develop. While collaborating with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, Johnson explored ideas for a new three-film saga. However, the project never advanced as Johnson’s attention shifted to his success with murder mystery films like “Knives Out.”
Conceptual Stages and Limited Development
Johnson explained that the ideas for the trilogy remained quite preliminary. He revealed that he and Kathleen Kennedy enjoyed working together and had intentions to keep developing the saga, but nothing concrete materialized.
“We had a great time working together, and they said, ‘Let’s keep doing it.’ I said, ‘Great!’ I would kick ideas around with Kathy. The short version is ‘Knives Out’ happened. I went off and made ‘Knives Out,’ and was off to the races, busy making murder mysteries. It’s the sort of thing if, down the line, there’s an opportunity to do it, or do something else in ‘Star Wars,’ I would be thrilled. But right now I’m just doing my own stuff, and pretty happy,”
Johnson stated.
He emphasized that the trilogy was “all very conceptual” and that no formal outline or treatment was ever developed for the project.
Uncertainty and Fondness for the Star Wars Universe
Despite the scrapped trilogy, Johnson has expressed deep affection for the Star Wars world and its fans. In 2022, he acknowledged he would be saddened if he never directed another Star Wars film but remained realistic about the situation.
“I love the world. I love the people. I love ‘Star Wars’ fans. I love the passion of how they engage in it. There’s nothing like telling a story in this world and then experiencing people truly connecting to it and letting you know that. It’s extraordinary,”
Johnson shared.
He also remarked,
“it wouldn’t be the end of the world for anyone,”
indicating his acceptance of moving on to other creative projects while leaving the door open for future Star Wars opportunities.
What This Means for the Future of Star Wars Storytelling
Rian Johnson’s candid reflections highlight that while his own trilogy did not take shape, the creative collaboration with Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm remains positive. His experience illustrates the challenges of balancing multiple ambitious projects and the unpredictable nature of franchise filmmaking. Fans of the Star Wars saga may remain hopeful for Johnson’s involvement in future stories, though for now, he continues to focus on his own independent work.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Rian Johnson direct Star Wars episode 8?
A. After Looper came out as his third movie, Rian Johnson met with Kathleen Kennedy, who was the new president of Lucasfilm. In a later meeting, Johnson was given the chance to direct Episode VIII of the Star Wars sequel series.
