Writer and Director Gareth Edwards Talks About What Movies Inspired Him While Making THE CREATOR

Director Gareth Edwards is best known for his big budget action movies like Monsters, Godzilla, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He is heading into possibly the largest scale film he has ever made with the sci-fi adventure drama, The Creator, and during a recent press screening of 30 minutes of footage from the film, as well as a Q&A with Edwards, the filmmaker was asked about the films that influenced him during the production. Since Edwards' first film, posters of the movies that inspired whatever he's working on have been hung in the edit suite.

/Film reports that Edwards explained:

" ... there's a film called 'Baraka.' 'Koyaanisqastsi,' the cinematographer from that went on and directed another film called 'Baraka,' which I think is one of the greatest movies ever made. 'Lone Wolf and Cub,' which is a Japanese manga series, there's a whole bunch of films. In the U.S., it was called 'Sword of Vengeance.' There are really obvious ones, like 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Blade Runner,' and I guess, in terms of the dynamic, maybe a little bit of 'Rain Man.' It's kind of a journey with someone normal and someone who's a little bit special, different, however you want to say it. And 'Paper Moon,' those sort of dynamics."

Like Edwards said, there are a lot of no-brainer connections here, as Apocalypse Now is a war film, and Blade Runner is futuristic and gritty. I find the Rain Man connection interesting, like maybe the relationship with John David Washington’s character Joshua, and the young robot child Alphie, is first based on Joshua’s needs, but it evolves into a relationship based on love.

I’m not familiar with the other movies on Edwards’ list, but I think it would be cool to check them out before watching his latest film.

The Creator will hit theaters on September 29, 2023.