Rian Johnson Confirms That His New STAR WARS Trilogy Will "Step Beyond The Legacy Characters"

It's been a while since we had any updates on Rian Johnson's plans for an all-new Star Wars trilogy, but The Last Jedi director has now confirmed that his story will not focus on the legacy characters...

By MarkCassidy - Aug 16, 2019 07:08 AM EST

Filed Under: Star Wars

Rian Johnson has shared an update on his mysterious Star Wars trilogy, which is still very much on at Disney/Lucasfilm despite rumors to the contrary.

While speaking to The Observer, Johnson touched on the challenges of taking the franchise in a new direction, and confirmed that his trilogy will not focus on any of the heroes and villains from the original series of films.

"We’re doing something that steps beyond the legacy characters," the director revealed. "What does that look like? To me, the blue sky element of it is what was most striking about it. I know the way that I’m coming at it and what’s fun about it for everyone in George Lucas’ films is figuring out, ‘what’s the next step?’ It really makes you think and figure out what the essence of Star Wars is for me and what that will look like moving forward.”

Based on what Rian says here, it's probably safe to assume that his movies will be set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, but you never know - that galaxy far, far away is a big place, after all!

Although The Last Jedi did very well both critically and commercially, it did prove to be a divisive installment of the Skywalker Saga among hardcore fans, so it'll be interesting to see if this new series of films can hook them back in.

Are you looking forward to Rian Johnson's new Star Wars trilogy? Let us know in the comments, and, if you fancy a recap, check out our rundown of the top 10 most shocking moments and surprising revelations in The Last Jedi as they unfold onscreen.

To view the list in its entirety, simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below.

10. Luke Tosses The Lightsaber

As we already know from the trailers, Luke accepts his old lightsaber from Rey near the beginning of the film... and promptly tosses it over his shoulder.

This actually got one of the biggest laughs of the movie, and brilliantly played off the perceived reverence of the scenario while making it very clear that this is not the Luke Skywalker of old.

Of course, the saber doesn't actually fall into the water... Rey's gonna need it later!

9. Leia Saves Herself By Using The Force

For a shocking moment, it looked like we were going to be saying goodbye to Leia very early on when The First Order (Kylo does not pull the trigger, though) destroy the command ship bridge, leaving The General floating in space .

However, we then see the daughter of Anakin Skywalker use the force for the very first time as she propels herself to safety.

The rest of the Resistance Commanders are not so lucky, and we even lose Admiral Ackbar (sniff). That was one trap he didn't see coming.

8. The Truth About Luke And Ben Solo Comes Out

We were led to believe that Ben Solo betrayed his master outright and slaughtered the other students, but there's a lot more to it than that.

During one of their force-connected chats, Kylo reveals to Rey that Luke actually attempted to murder his nephew when he sensed the darkness rising within him, which ultimately led to Ben giving himself over to Snoke entirely and becoming Kylo Ren.

However, Luke later explains that he only considered ending Ben's life for a moment before coming to his senses, but by then it was too late.

7. Yoda

Yoda was rumored to make an appearance in The Last Jedi very early on, and sure enough, the little green fella returns to help his old apprentice right when he needs him the most.

When Rey leaves, Luke is determined to burn down the first Jedi temple and all of the ancient relics within, but rather than talk him out of out, Yoda makes the choice for him and sets it all ablaze with a lightning strike.

The reunion between these iconic characters is a joy to behold, as Yoda teaches Luke one more lesson, ultimately giving him the strength to forgive himself and put things right.

6. Captain Phasma Returns... For About 3 Minutes

Were you let down with Captain Phasma's screen-time in The Force Awakens? Looking forward to seeing a lot more of her in The Last Jedi? Well... tough!

Phasma returns for a tiny cameo to do battle with Finn, before losing half her mask (we get a glimpse of Gwendoline Christie's eye and no more) and then dying - this time for real.

It's a pretty cool sequence overall, but what a waste of a potentially great character. It seems Phasma is the Boba Fett of this new trilogy after all.

5. Kylo Betrays Snoke, But Doesn't Turn To The Light

If you were hoping to find out about Supreme Leader Snoke's history here you can forget it, as the "arch villain" turns out to be nothing more than a plot device.

Kylo brings Rey before his master, who extracts the whereabouts of Luke from her mind, before toying with her a little and ordering his servant to dispatch his true enemy.

That'll be Snoke, then.

What follows is a terrific sequence as Rey and Kylo team up to take out the Praetorian Guards, but once the fight is over they remain foes, each turning down the other's offer to switch sides.

4. Rey's Parents Are...

Nobody! Or at least, nobody important.

Once Snoke is dead, Kylo reveals the truth to Rey (and us), and it turns out young force-wielder's folks were a pair of drunks who sold her off, and are now laying dead in a junkyard.

This is sure to be a divisive turn of events, but when you think about it, The Force Awakens never actually attached that much importance to Rey's true parentage - the fans took that upon themselves.

3. Holdo Goes Out In A Blaze Of Glory

We're not too sure about Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo when she's first introduced, but it turns out she has the Resistance's best interests at heart, and ultimately gives her life to save what's left of the fleet.

Having remained behind while the others flee to Crait, Holdo aims the command ship right at The First Order's dreadnought and jumps into hyper-space. We then witness one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the film, as the enemy's ships are silently decimated.

We barely knew you Holdo, but you went out like a boss.

2. Luke Becomes More Powerful Than You Could Possibly Imagine

Or, for all intents and purposes, Luke dies.

When all hope seems lost, the legendary Jedi Knight arrives on Crait. After a touching reunion with his sister, Luke walks out to confront his old student, lightsaber at the ready... kinda.

It turns out Skywalker is only using the force to project an image of himself, and is actually back on the island. When Kylo "strikes him down in anger", we see Luke become one with the force as his body vanishes while he gazes at the twin suns one last time.

This will surely wind up being the most controversial thing about The Last Jedi, but it's a truly beautiful moment, and does make sense for the story that is unfolding in this trilogy.

1. The Jedi Rise Again

Once Rey, Finn, Leia and the others are all safe aboard The Falcon, we cut to the Crait kids playing with a Luke Skywalker toy (trust me, it's not as out of place as it sounds) before being interrupted by the tyrannical stable-master.

Then, the boy who helped Finn and Rose escape earlier walks outside and grabs a broom using the force.

The final shot of the film is the boy gazing at the stars, as it becomes clear that a new generation of Jedi will rise.

Which of these moments did you find most surprising? Did we leave anything out? Sound off below!

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119 Comments

1 2 3

DetectiveCinema - 8/16/2019, 7:38 AM

I wish we were getting a Kenobi film instead of this, or KOTOR.

Hopefully the Kenobi Disney+ series delivers. At this stage Rian’s trilogy doesn’t really interest me.

L0RDbuckethead - 8/16/2019, 7:39 AM

This thread should be fun.

2013venjix - 8/16/2019, 7:40 AM

At least he's moving forward with the franchise.... (as far as we know.)

nikgrid - 8/16/2019, 7:40 AM

He already stepped ON the legacy characters. This guy can [frick] right off.

Imfunnyhow - 8/16/2019, 9:30 AM

@nikgrid -

nikgrid - 8/16/2019, 4:31 PM

@Imfunnyhow - Haha yes! exactly!

IronGenesis - 8/16/2019, 7:40 AM

Kinda feels Lucasfilm is waiting (desperately) for Johnson to rebound with a winning film so they can role him back out and say...SEE we got this amazing filmmaker. And they won’t have to solely continue to lean on the now nearly decade old Looper.

Comicbookart - 8/16/2019, 7:41 AM

Who is the more controversial director Rian Johnson or Zack Snyder?

BertieGregory - 8/16/2019, 7:43 AM

@Comicbookart - Rian Johnson for sure. Zach Snyder did create a style with 300 (which albeit got old fast), which isn't altogether terrible movie. He is touted always as an aesthetically gifted director.

LimeD - 8/16/2019, 7:57 AM

@Comicbookart @BertieGregory -

regularmovieguy - 8/16/2019, 7:58 AM

@BertieGregory

Idk. Rian’s only bad movie imo is TLJ whereas Zack Snyder has made Sucker Punch and has steered the DCEU into a hole.

RJ has also directed some of the best episodes of the GOAT tv show: Breaking Bad.

regularmovieguy - 8/16/2019, 7:59 AM

DISCLAIMER:

I know directors have a lot less leeway on tv shows. But RJ’s fingerprints are all over his BB episodes.

WakandanQueen - 8/16/2019, 8:04 AM

@Comicbookart - Rian Johnson directed probably the best hour in TV history, Ozymandias. It seems like his writing is what people have mainly issues with.

BertieGregory - 8/16/2019, 7:41 AM

The ultimate blue sky (if that's what you're after) would be a different property altogether.

knocturnalzen10 - 8/16/2019, 7:45 AM

Johnson speaking about SW should make this thread amazing lol

GhostDog - 8/16/2019, 7:45 AM

This meme still cracks me up

GhostDog - 8/16/2019, 7:48 AM

@KingCipher - LOL! This will never get old.

OmegaDaGrodd - 8/16/2019, 7:47 AM

nibs - 8/16/2019, 7:53 AM

"what’s fun about it for everyone in George Lucas’ films is figuring out, ‘what’s the next step?" - a man that definitely understands why people like star wars

WakandanQueen - 8/16/2019, 7:54 AM

Way more excited about the Star Wars shows on Disney+ than the upcoming films.

LimeD - 8/16/2019, 7:58 AM

@WakandanQueen -

IronGenesis - 8/16/2019, 7:56 AM

First thing first though.

JJ has to save Star Wars and get the fans to believe again. Then Faverau can do his part by hitting a homer with Mandalore and THEN if McGregors ObiWan is as epic as it has the potential to be

ONLY THEN

Will the damage from Rian be repaired enough and I think he can be brought back and put into the corner of the sand box to do his “thing”.

WakandanQueen - 8/16/2019, 8:00 AM

@IronGenesis - Mandalorian is out before TROS. Also, Rian's trilogy isn't coming out anytime soon.

Super12 - 8/16/2019, 7:58 AM

Eff this guy. And Kennedy for putting him in complete control of the legacy characters in the first place knowing he didn't care one bit about them. This standalone trilogy is what she should've given him in the first place, not a rare and precious Skywalker Saga episode. Which he royally screwed over.

OmegaDaGrodd - 8/16/2019, 7:58 AM

People have gotten so emotionally invested in 'Star Wars Is Dead Because Rian Johnson' derangement that they are going to be watching a Rian Johnson Star Wars movie in theaters a few years from now and still contend he was fired ages ago

1 2 3

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Rian Johnson Confirms That His New STAR WARS Trilogy Will "Step Beyond The Legacy Characters"

It's been a while since we had any updates on Rian Johnson's plans for an all-new Star Wars trilogy, but The Last Jedi director has now confirmed that his story will not focus on the legacy characters...

10. Luke Tosses The Lightsaber

9. Leia Saves Herself By Using The Force

8. The Truth About Luke And Ben Solo Comes Out

7. Yoda

6. Captain Phasma Returns... For About 3 Minutes

5. Kylo Betrays Snoke, But Doesn't Turn To The Light

4. Rey's Parents Are...

3. Holdo Goes Out In A Blaze Of Glory

2. Luke Becomes More Powerful Than You Could Possibly Imagine

1. The Jedi Rise Again

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