Ava DuVernay Isnt Interested In Directing Star Wars

She was, according to Jordan Maison. She could still produce something.

It bugs me that people are getting their pants in a knot over the idea of a white man producing a show, ignoring the fact that he's talented at what he does (Cowboys & Aliens aside) and that he helped launch the biggest film franchise of all time - because, by this logic, your background should determine whether or not you're qualified to make a movie. Favreau producing doesn't, at all, preclude women from contributing to the creative process on the project, and if anything, we'll likely get our first female directors for a major Star Wars project out of the series.

 

I think it has a lot to do with a tone deaf timing. They could have announced it yesterday or tomorrow and they did it on the International Women's Day. Favreau is Disney's darling right now and he made some good films in his career, I'm sure he'll do well.

As for Ava, if she's not interested, she's not interested. There are people in this world who do not see themselves creatively in Star Wars and that's all right. I'm sure she'll do just fine. It's just funny to me how the fans called her name out before to direct and now are, sort of, washing their hands after critics panned her film.

 

If by "funny" you mean "sad", then I agree with you. I still plan on giving the movie a shot, but I think it needs to be said that not every director who you want to make a Star Wars movie will make one. I'd like David Fincher (who did work on ROTJ, just so we're clear) to do a gritty crime movie set on Nar Shaddaa, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get it.

 

Inappropriate? No. Tone deaf, as I said? Yes. Because, Kennedy herself (whom I will personally defend from so much crap and hate she gets every day) said that they would diversify people who work on the movies behind the scenes a couple of years ago. And yet, every announced person was a white man. Announcing it a day later, a day earlier wouldn't change a thing. Favreau would still be a good choice and some people would still complain, but I don't think as many. I do wonder if uncle Iger planned another conference call and they hurried to announce it before he spilled the beans like with so many other things.

--- Double Post Merged, Mar 9, 2018, Original Post Date: Mar 9, 2018 ---

Well, that too. Every director has a misfire, it doesn't erase their talent. But, some fans will always have a knee jerk reaction.

 

So, it's not all right to censor news (which no one suggested, btw, just questioned their timing), but it is all right to censor people's perception of the said news? Can't you see how hypocritical that is? Because, perception is not wrong.

Favreau, regardless of his pedigree, is the ninth white man (I'm not completely sure about the number, so many were fired) selected to shepherd a project in the new Lucasfilm era. Fans all clamor for the 'right person' for the project, but they don't ever seem to question the selection process of that right person that always gives the same result. I know it's not popular to question it especially when the choice is liked as much as Happy Hogan, but people should be able to.

Why is it a bad thing to say that a little awareness of the wider implications of this announcement on this particular date would be good for everyone involved? I don't understand that. Why is it a bad thing to question their selection process?

 

If they are attacking Favreau, like personally, that's just dumb and unfortunate. The actual valuable complaints should be aimed at Lucasfilm. Timing was tone deaf, but I don't think it was malicious.

The thing is, we still don't know the result - that will come later when the show is released. You can argue that the choice is backed by Favreau prolific background.

Yes, it's generalization because that is the only thing they have in common. Some of them had only one or two successful projects, others had life long careers. There must be others who are just like them career wise, but differ in gender or color. There must be. It's the question of opportunities.

That's it. No one in the right mind would be against Favreau because of his race and gender. But people should and must wonder if others are offered the same opportunity as the long line of his colleagues who are just like him.

I bet there are many women and people of color who care about Star Wars and would be able and willing take up the challenge. Is it HUGE TASK? Yes. Can anyone do it? No. But, is it just one group of people that can do it? Decidedly not.

It's that simple. You don't need (or should) to attack anyone (regardless who they are) who got the job to ask for the opportunities to be opened to more people. We just need to see those opportunities realized in more than just words.

Star Wars is so many different things to so many different people for so many different reasons. Imagine what those different voices and points of view could do for Star Wars. Imagine if the world could get even richer and bigger. It is possible to be better even for Star Wars.

 

And writers and producers and show runners and cinematographers and... pick any key behind the scenes position. We had a couple of female editors on TFA and that's it. It is a female led company with three female-led movies and neither the company nor the movies are nowhere near to reflecting either the industry or the real world. In Rogue One alone we had 2-3 speaking female roles (Jyn, Mon, Leia) compared to 20-30 male speaking roles. TLJ was the closest one. But, Lucasfilm isn't that ahead as it seems - if at all. And I can only speak about women, I am not informed well enough to talk about people of color.

You are right that for a woman directing could be a big set back if not career explosion if it doesn't works out. That's also the problem, but a completely different one. But, I don't believe that no one wants that opportunity if it's offered. Also, that no one wants to write the script, produce, film, makes costumes... No one? Really? I seriously doubt it.

I am not saying - NOT AT ALL - that they should start hiring anyone willy-nilly or to fulfill some quota, which would be insulting in and on its own. But, offer opportunities for all these positions? It's questionable that they couldn't and that there was no one qualified and willing to fill them. But, things are the way they are. I hope they'll change and for benefit of everyone. Especially Star Wars.