Rian Johnson Talks Creative Freedom on STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII and More
Art by Ryan Crain
Director Rian Johnson recently talked a little bit about his experience working on Star Wars: Episode VIII so far on the podcast TalkHouse. While he talks about it he gives us several reasons why these upcoming Star Wars movies are going to be amazing, mostly because of how supportive Lucasfilm has been to the filmmakers they've hired to bring these movies to life.
Director Terry Gilliam was also in on the discussion, and it was the first time he learned that Johnson was directing Episodes VIII and IX. When Gilliam finds out he asks him what it feels like to take over someone else's world and this was his response:
“Well, I’m just starting into it so… but so far it’s been nothing but… honestly, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had writing. It’s just joyous. But also for me personally, I grew up, not just watching those movies but playing with those toys, so as a little kid the first movies I was making in my head were set in that world. So a big part of it is that sort of direct connection, its almost like an automatic jacking-in into childhood in a weird way I guess…. but I don’t know, ask me again in a few years, we’ll talk about it.”
Gilliam then asked if George Lucas was going to be keeping an eye on him. Johnson reminded the director that Lucas sold all the rights off to Disney, and then added:
"I’m figuring it out as I go. I’m dancing on top of the avalanche a little bit. So I’ll have more perspective in a while but it’s a balance of remembering what inspires you about it [the original films], but you can probably go to the wrong place by feeling too responsible to it. You have to keep your head loose enough to tell a story you actually care about."
The conversation then went into the obligations and the responsibility that comes with finding yourself in charge of such an iconic franchise. What Johnson says next it was gives me even more reason to believe that these Star Wars films will kick ass:
"Well, that’s been the great thing about it Kathleen and her whole creative team have been so insistent on all the filmmakers they’ve been hiring for these new movies: ‘We want you to take it and turn it into something that you really care about.’ And we’ll see how the process plays out, but so far, that’s a big part of the reason I’m [doing the film]. Because that just seems like their attitude towards it. It’s really exciting actually."
We've got a long way to go before we see the movies that Johnson is working on, but he's a talented guy who is going to give fans everything they want to see. Thanks to The Playlist, and you can listen to the entire podcast below if you want.