When
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released in 2015, it drew record numbers and charmed fans around the world. One of the criticisms of the film, however, was that it followed too close to the formula that made
A New Hope successful.
With
The Last Jedi being released later this year, and it being the second film in a new trilogy, it would only be natural that people compare it to
The Empire Strikes Back. A comparison that is not lost on
The Last Jedi director, Rian Johnson, who is hoping to put his own unique spin on the film.
Speaking to
Fandango at D23, Johnson was asked how he would compare his
Star Wars film to the rest of the Saga.
"The temptation is to say, well it's a middle chapter, so it's got kind of an Empire thing," Johnson explained.
"But at the same time, I really wanted to maintain the same sense of fun that J.J. [Abrams] had in The Force Awakens, that to some extent in Return Of The Jedi, which I was like 10 years old, that was primed for me when that came out, and the sense of playfulness, I think. So when I say Empire, I guess I don't want to give the impression that it's kind of a dark, gloom and doom. It was also very important to me that this was a fun adventure. I don't know, it's a mixed bag of a lot of different stuff. And hopefully some unique stuff too.
Check out the video below, and catch
Star Wars: The Last Jedi in theaters December 15, 2017.