Directing a Star Wars film is no easy feat, and while Rian Johnson seems to have handled it with grace in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the director has admitted to plenty of challenges in crafting a satisfying sequel. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the director discussed some of the important elements that went into making the film what it needed to be.
One of the biggest mysteries that came from The Force Awakens was the protagonist herself, Rey. Fans theories were plentiful, specifically concering her parentage. While fans may wish for Rey's parents to be people of significance, Johnson is more concerned about emotional significance for the audience and the character. "What does it mean to her, what does it mean to us," he said. "I really, really believe that it has to be rooted in something that has an emotional impact, and that's the only thing that matters. Surprise is fine, but surprise by itself is cheap. The emotional and deeply-rooted resonance of 'I am your father' [in The Empire Strikes Back] is why we remember it. Not because, 'Oh my god, I never would have guess that he was.' Now especially that that's set as a pattern, the audience's expectations are now that, 'Oh, you're going to pull something out of your hat for this or that.' And you can, and that'll be fine, but you better damn well make sure that it also means something and is satisfying beyond just the, 'Oh, it was this,' reveal."
Not catering to expectation seemed to be a focus for Johnson, as Mark Hamill explained. "At times, I'd say to Rian, 'We gotta think of what the audience wants,'" Hamill said. "And he'd say, 'No, we've gotta think of what we want.' Which is a learning process for me."
Another hint at Rey's past came through her "Forceback" vision when touching Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, and Johnson admitted to "studying" the first film in order to get everything right. "Just like any process of writing, it's more excavation than sculpture. You're finding it as you go, and you realize it wants to be a certain thing. So yeah, the flashback was essential, but the dynamic between each of the characters was essential. Every single thing in The Force Awakens, I studied forensically."
Humorously enough, one of the more divisive aspects of the film seems to be the Porgs, the bird-like creatures that inhabit the island where Luke has exiled himself. Johnson explained that the idea for the creatures came from the puffins that inhabited the island of Skellig Michaeal, where the island scenes were shot. "When we first scouted Skellig Michael, the island where we shot Luke's stuff, it was covered in puffins," said Johnson. "It's a bird sanctuary, actually. So there were all these adorable little puffins all over the island. It was first just like, 'OK, let's come up with the Star Wars version of that.' Also, I knew that I wanted any opportunity for lightness or comic relief I could find on the island. So that combination led to the Porgs. I apologize. [Laughs] No, I love 'em, I really love 'em!"
Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theatres December 15, 2017.