After a long week like the one I’ve had, it’s great to cap it off with wonderful news about one of my favorite working filmmakers. Variety reports that Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper) is on board to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII, and as for Episode IX, there are a few conflicting reports going around. Deadline states that he is on to both write and direct VIII and IX, but The Wrap indicates he’s only writing the treatment for Episode IX, and Variety only confirms his involvement on Episode VIII. Once we get a direct confirmation on his involvement or not on Episode IX we will be sure to update this post.
The words on this screen can’t express how excited I am about Johnson taking over Star Wars. He’s one of my favorite working filmmakers, with both Brick and The Brothers Bloom wonderful works of film and Looper proved he could handle a larger budget and was also my favorite film of 2012. Not to mention he’s directed 3 of my favorite episodes of Breaking Bad, with his episode Ozymandias still being the best hour of television I’ve ever seen. His producing partner Ram Bergman will be joining him on this adventure to a galaxy far, far away. No disrespect to Abrams as I have faith he’ll deliver a solid film, but Johnson is the type of inspired choice I’ve wanted for this franchise all along.
Rian Johnson jokingly tweeted out the following clip from The Right Stuff, and it makes sense that he did with the pressure and scrutiny these films will come with but I have complete faith he’s going to dominate these films.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9iP2WEvq2s&w=420&h=315]
