Rian Johnson Talks STAR WARS EPISODE VIII; "I Wanted To Play In This World"

Rian Johnson Talks STAR WARS EPISODE VIII; "I Wanted To Play In This World"

As soon as J.J. Abrams is finished with Star Wars Episode VII, Looper director Rian Johnson will be taking over the franchise. Here, he talks for the first time about helming Star Wars Episode VIII and even shares his thoughts on the prequels. Check it out!

By JoshWilding - Jul 28, 2014 12:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: /Film

Rian Johnson (who was responsible for directing some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad) is set to write and direct Star Wars Episode VIII, while he is also attached to write a treatment for - and possibly helm - Episode IX as well. The filmmaker recently made an appearance on the 500th Filmspotting podcast and was asked what most excited him about working on the movies. "I’m really excited about all the things I can’t tell you. The thought of it made me so completely joyfully happy. I wanted to to play in this world, of literally the first movie my dad put me in the car to see." As for how he landed the job, he would only provide a jokey answer ("I can only assume it was a clerical error, like in the movie ‘Brazil.’ There’s a ‘Brian Johnson’ out there who is really mad!") before adding that working at Lucasfilm has been, "kind of like summer camp," before stating that he's still very early in the process. As for how he advise new fans to the Star Wars franchise to watch the movies, Johnson added: "I would do (Episodes) 4-6 then 1-3. Storytelling-wise, 4-6 were constructed without the knowledge of the past. There was something really beautiful about the prequels. With these films, I am trying to harken back to the original ‘Star Wars’...Christmas special. We do have Jefferson Starship!" he joked. 
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Pasto
Pasto - 7/28/2014, 1:01 PM
*In Yoda voice*
"To the bathroom I must go, hmm?"
TheDarkPassenger
TheDarkPassenger - 7/28/2014, 1:06 PM
Looper is fantastic, I've got a lot of love for this guy. He'll own it.
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 7/28/2014, 1:11 PM
I remember when he said he didn't think he would be considered for a Star Wars job. Kind of funny how things turned out.

After Re-watching Looper and watching Brick for the first time...I think he can make a great Star Wars film.

If Rian doesn't come back for VIII, then maybe we could get Duncan Jones or Matt Reeves to direct next?
clogan
clogan - 7/28/2014, 1:11 PM
This movie will blow Avatar, Avengers and BvS off the water as Box Office goes.

Just saying.
yossarian
yossarian - 7/28/2014, 1:11 PM
"I’m really excited about all the things I can’t tell you..."

Well, I'm excited about all the things I can't tell him too.
DaVinci31
DaVinci31 - 7/28/2014, 1:12 PM
2015 is going to be one hell of a year.
darthbatman93
darthbatman93 - 7/28/2014, 1:18 PM
It was actually announced he is writing and directing both 8 and 9.
kong
kong - 7/28/2014, 1:18 PM


You'll get it soon enough...
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 7/28/2014, 1:19 PM
@darthbatman93 Actually it was reported that he was Directing 8 and writing a treatment for 9.
Spideysense44
Spideysense44 - 7/28/2014, 1:28 PM
We're gonna have Marvel, DC, and Star Wars universe. Oh my god!
ALegendaryPanda
ALegendaryPanda - 7/28/2014, 1:30 PM
It's a good time to be a Star Wars fan! :)
Joe6Pack74
Joe6Pack74 - 7/28/2014, 1:31 PM
I just hope they don't over do it with too many movies. It would be a grand galactic shame if people got bored with too much Star Wars.
fullmetal
fullmetal - 7/28/2014, 1:31 PM
And don't forget Rian Johnson directed arguably one of the best episodes of Breaking Bad, "Ozymandias," which has great explosive drama. "Looper" was great too. That's what I care most about...giving us some good drama like in "Revenge of The Sith" and "Empire Strikes Back." I agree with how to watch the saga. I'll never watch it the way Lucas says to. It is so important to not know Anakin and Vader are not the same person when Vader reveals to Luke that he is his father in "Empire." To watch it episode 1-6, that part would lose all its emotional power. Seems like Disney isn't f--king around when it comes to these new Star Wars flicks...
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 7/28/2014, 1:39 PM
@Joe6Pack74 As long as they're good, nobody is getting bored. I mean, nobody is getting bored with the Marvel movies (except DC Trolls) and nobody is going to get bored with DC movies (Except Marvel Trolls).
EmeritusII
EmeritusII - 7/28/2014, 1:51 PM
Looper was overrated yall. Hated that kid, thought i was gonna see a time travel movie with JGL vs BW, 'stead i got this rainmaker kid and a farm.

ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 7/28/2014, 2:07 PM
@Alien "The Prequels were overrated yall. Hated that Little Ani Kid, Thought I was going to see a Star Wars movie, instead I got a poorly written mess with Jar Jar Jar Binks."

There, I fixed it for you.

Nemeres
Nemeres - 7/28/2014, 2:08 PM
Rian Johnson is a fuggin hoot. Anyone else here a Slashfilmcast fan? XD

Can't wait to see what he does with it.
EmeritusII
EmeritusII - 7/28/2014, 2:10 PM
@ndwwrestler2
PrinceAwesome
PrinceAwesome - 7/28/2014, 2:44 PM
@ndwwrestler2

How can 'Looper' be considered a 'great' film to begin with? The whole concept of send a variety of criminals to the past only to be executed by a 'looper' is blatantly stupid to begin with! And do you want to know what is even more stupid than sending a variety of criminals to the past only to be executed by a 'looper'? Sending the future self of a 'looper' to be annihilated by his past self! The execution and direction of the film was phenomenal, but the plot was beyond idiotic. As a director, Johnson could captivate the tone of the film quite finely, but if he's going to write - not one, but TWO - Star Wars films, then may God be with us all.
Tidaltree
Tidaltree - 7/28/2014, 2:46 PM
I'm just hoping that they "forget" SW I-III, when making the new line of movies. There's noone alive anymore remembering the incidents occuring at that time and years of empire propaganda should have left more rumors than actual facts to build the storyline upon. In fact I would prefere, if the one or other incident of the old trilogy would have slipped even the minds of still living characters to a degree, as memory in general is actually quite erroneously.

Overall I'd prefere Johnson before Abrams, though. (Even for Episode VII - I know: Won't happen.) Abrams tends to show "guns to be used" too blatantly, thereby announcing turns in the story quite regulary. And I sure want a turn to be surprising, if I was inattentively missing the gun or weren't able to draw the correct conclusion to it being shown. (As at least the original saga had its share of philosophical themes, at least a little bit to think about while watching ain't to much to ask for, is it?)

By the way, as I haven't followed news and rumors on episode VII: Is the story of the next trilogy also centered on the experiences of R2D2 and C3PO? Imo their time of operation ending is the one story left untold that, for a proper conclusion, I'd deem necessary. (And not just as a short, emotionless notice in passing or rushed during the first new episode.) Is there some info on this already circulating?
soaponapope
soaponapope - 7/28/2014, 3:13 PM
brian johnson like..ac/dc.
Tidaltree
Tidaltree - 7/28/2014, 3:39 PM
AB/CD? Was a good coverband once....
bigdannymac
bigdannymac - 7/28/2014, 3:46 PM
YO!!!!

For those who missed it: Deadpool leaked test footage lives on: http://vimeo.com/101972457

Your welcome :)
StarkAnthony
StarkAnthony - 7/28/2014, 6:30 PM
He may be being diplomatic, but I am glad he appreciates the prequels on some level
jaysin420
jaysin420 - 7/29/2014, 8:48 AM
I love time travel movies, but i really didn't like Looper that much. I saw it once and I never even thought to watch it again.
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