Looper Director Rian Johnson On Whether He Would Take The Star Wars: Episode VII Gig
He'd have a hard time saying no.
This article is more than 2 years old
Until Disney finally gets around to officially announcing the director or Star Wars: Episode VII, pretty much every noteworthy director in town has been rumored or suggested for the gig, from proven veterans like Steven Spielberg to up-and-comers like Safety Not Guaranteed’s Colin Trevorrow. One of the more intriguing suggestions is Looper writer/director Rian Johnson. I’d love to see what Johnson could do with a Star Wars film, but Johnson himself seems more interested in playing his own sandbox, rather than George Lucas’.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Johnson admits that he’d be tempted by the offer, but for now is more interested in telling his own stories:
I don’t think I’m on those sorts of lists. On the one hand, it’s Star Wars, it would be very hard to say no to.
On the other hand, for me, I’m really enjoying just writing my own stuff, and right now that’s what I’m doing, I’m writing another original screenplay now, and we’ll figure out how to get it made.
That’s sort of what I’m in it for, is telling my own stories, and seeing if we can strike out on some new ground. So, luckily I don’t think it’s a problem that I’ll have to deal with!
Having given us one of our favorite movies of the year in Looper, Johnson is guaranteed to have our attention regardless of what he does next. And honestly, it’s very cool to see him so committed to telling his own original stories, as opposed to taking the easy paychecks for this sequel or that reboot or whatever. With Brick, The Brothers Bloom, and Looper Johnson has made three very different movies, each enjoyable and interesting in their own way.
I’d sure as hell buy a ticket for a Johnson-directed Star Wars movie, but given the choice, I’d rather leave him be and see what else he comes up with. Original movies that aren’t based on something else are a rare commodity in Hollywood; now that the success of Looper has bought Johnson the clout to do his own thing, I say let the guy keep on surprising us.
