David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Will Not Go to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

IMO this is a mistake. D&D were reaching out to Lucas, I think they should have kept them on and let them put something together. But it's a moot point now.

 

Pretty much already put my take on this in my status, but basically:

- We have no idea what this trilogy was going to be, or the quality of movie we're currently missing out on

- We cannot currently confirm why they are no longer attached to this project

- Being salty about a TV show's finale isn't really a holistic or viable approach to critiquing a filmmaker's career

- Neither is using a single TV show or movie to justify or glorify a filmmaker, either. Let their potential project stand on its own.

- Pretty sure Kathleen Kennedy didn't "I am the Senate" these guys out of existence. Let's not pretend like she did. Please be rational adults about this.

 

Nice edit. I also said that the chaos at Lucasfilm is no doubt what chased these guys away. They did not choose Netflix over a SW theatrical trilogy for no reason. But keep on spinning, it won't help keep this Titanic afloat.

 

I'll cancel my HBO subscription after WATCHMEN. I have all the Watchmen books ( graphic novels) and films( all the versions that were released) so I'm invested.

Also, when D&D skipped Comic-con I knew those guys were lame... not surprised they ran from Star Wars. I still love GoT but the last season felt rushed. I wasn't so sure they would do a good job with Star Wars... good riddance, and close the door behind you, thank you very much, Sirs.

LFL is in chaos, hopefully TRoS will get them back on target... Kevin Feige looks like the person to right the ship. I'll wait for his take with much anticipation.

Furthermore, if RJ steps up to the plate we're not getting anything Old Rebublic that's for sure... we're getting something brand new that only a select few will enjoy.

 

I recall reading that somewhere around the time that season 8 aired. I have not been able to find that piece. And not to go all conspiracy theorist, but I have read an increasing number of articles where high profile media companies have engaged tech companies that have worked on scrubbing unfavorable pieces from search engine results (related to #MeToo content).

However, the EW interview that Dan & Dave gave in April of this year indicated that HBO was prepared to let the final season take as long as they needed clearly contradicts that. Was it a case of fatigue and the showrunners being ready to let the series end? That may have been how things played out. Whatever the case, the genie is out of the bottle and GoT is done. At least until the spinoff series' begin. And now Dan & Dave will be moving on to their Netflix deal. The mechanics of how things played out may come out at some later date.

I am far more interested in moving forward than dwelling on the minutiae of Benioff & Weiss departing the franchise before producing a single show or film. Who are the people that will continue to produce new Star Wars content? The story of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series is intriguing. Kevin Feige signing on to produce a film is huge. The Russo Brothers visiting Lucasfilm is also a big deal. These things and how TROS plays out are what intrigue me.

 

I really haven't decided how I feel about this. My friend who sent me the news and separate friend who I shared the news with (and had watched most of Season 8 with*) were both very happy with the news. To me it feels like two steps forward, one step back. Why have this news out the day - mere hours - after The Mandalorian trailer airs? Does the trailer help soften the blow? Are they thinking that the fans will feel like it's a double win?

As for the movies themselves...meh. B&W aren't the first directors/producers Lucasfilm has parted ways with, and they won't be the last.

With Markus and McFeely? OH. YES. PLEASE. That's the ONLY way I want a Russo Brothers Star Wars movie (or movies). Heck, maybe they're part of the one Fiege is producing (wouldn't that be mind blowing in the trailer... "from the mind that brought you the MCU, the writers of Winter Soldier and Civil War, and the directors of Infinity War and Endgame...Star Wars [Insert title here]"



*I watched the finale with both friends at separate places on the same day; the first friend couldn't watch it earlier, so after finishing the season with the second friend I went to the first friend's house to see his reaction.

 

NetFlix gave them a 5 year deal worth $250 million. That's pretty good reason to me. Seems like that deal was the end of their Star Wars run. NetFlix isn't going to spend that kind of money and wait until 2026.

 

So quick poll of family this morning.
Myself and oldest son annoyed because we feel that fandom chased them away
Wife and sister puzzled because they loved GoT, but spend no time with any fandom and didnt read the books.
Middle son relieved because he never watched GoT because he has a problem with blood and gore and worried that B&W would go that route based on his limited GoT viewing.
Youngest son doesnt really pay that much attention to movie and film creators. So said just wants more Star Wars movies.

 

That's part of the reason I feel it's silly to pander to the loud squeaky wheels, if that's what happened.

Sure, there are a lot of angry people online that think people care about their GOT opinions. But Star Wars has a huge amount (and variety!) of viewers, most of whom are likely not deeply rooted in the production drama of a TV show that ended several months ago...

 

Indeed. I also think that whomever is in charge of these things, be it Iger and Disney or KK and LFL, needs to do a better job of getting the right people on board. I realize these things happen, but sheesh it seems that in the last 5 years or so Star Wars has been plagued by this sort of drama.

But anyway, best of luck to them.

 

having Star Wars TV shows will be a great proving ground for new talent.
i don't think we will see much of this kind of unseating going forward from here.

 

Yeah, I brought this up in the "concerned" thread yesterday before it got shut down. I'm not sure what happened in that panel though that would have prompted action from Lucasfilm to finally get the announcement out.

 

Yeah, I'm pedantic and my comment now is stupid, but they B&W actually directed 1 whole episode each of GoT before the finale. Your point, however, is entirely valid

 

People may not have liked how Season 8 ended story wise, but the film making and direction was great. What most complaints were about was the speed of the conclusion and the story, not the execution.

 

Probably the best example of why they could've been considered a liability, at least. It's not about whatever their quality was, but their character- there was some pretty poor attitude and decision-making disclosed in that interview that I could see being a red flag for a major company like Disney.

Of course, I have to wonder if these things are related, how so? Were they really fired and the decision made public in, like, a day?

Or did they already know they were being fired, and in a jaded moment simply be more candid in this GOT panel?

Or, as always, are these things completely unrelated?

 

I honestly don't care at this point. I'm too disgusted with Lucasfilm at this point, along with Benioff and Weiss' handling of the last two seasons of "Game of Thrones".