We still have a massive wait until the next main installment of the
Star Wars saga hits theatres, and while we may have
Rogue One to tide us over this December, it doesn't make it any easier to be patient for Rian Johnson's
Episode VIII. The Force Awakens concluded with Rey (Daisy Ridley) defeating the arrogant Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) before embarking on a quest to find Luke Skywalker. While we still don't know anything about the sequel's story, Driver has compared the film to The Empire Strikes Back in terms of being tonally different to its predecessor.
“[The script] is great,” Driver told
Collider.
“It’s similar to how The Empire Strikes Back has a different tone. For that people always go, ‘Ooooh, it’s dark,’ but I don’t know that it necessarily is. It’s just different in tone in a way that I think is great and necessary, but also very clear. [Rian Johnson] trusts [that] his audience is ready for nuance and ambiguity. He’s not dumbing anything down for someone and that’s really fun to play.”
Driver also reaffirmed that no one has become comfortable or relaxed in their position, even with the massive success of
The Force Awakens, which made over $2 billion at the worldwide box office.
“The stakes are even higher. No one’s relaxing,” he said.
“Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I didn’t feel more relaxed as if we’d accomplished anything. It’s one more reason we have to redouble our efforts and just make it even more specific, but then you also have to let it all go and not think too much while you’re working on it.”
Star Wars: Episode VIII releases December 15, 2017.