OFFICIAL NEWS Rian Johnson on the Freedom of His ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy

(responding to Darth Wardawg) Nah, no need to apologize. I agree with pretty much all your points. I'm in the "loved it" camp with Last Jedi, but even I can say that, yeah, another SW film from Rian Johnson seems pretty unlikely now. And maybe that would in fact be for the better. The franchise has been struggling lately and, regardless of what happens with RJ, some restructuring would probably be necessary to help get things back on track. In the meantime, hopefully Ep 9 and the Disney+ shows will be successful.

 

At celebration they gave a schedule, something like Star Wars 2022, Star Wars 2024, Star Wars 2026. Something like that, but yeah they didn't say what exactly, just that the first film would be from B&W.

As for the firing, of course it's somewhat conjecture. I doubt they'd release why they fired her. And while I get the idea that correlation isn't causation, it sure as heck seems like that played some sort of role in her release. I misplaced Bob Iger's number or I'd call him up and ask him directly.

As for the lack of lightsabers and Jedi in the proposed RJ trilogy, I also don't know where it is coming from I just mentioned it as part of my thinking out loud in that post.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 15, 2019, Original Post Date: Oct 15, 2019 ---

It does appear there is something going on, some sort of restructuring. We know they dropped the one shot films/moved them onto Disney + and it looks like the Obi Wan miniseries is the first one to benefit from that move. What else is going on?

As a Star Wars fan I also want it to flourish. I can't wait for the Mandalorian and while I'm cautious when it comes to TROS, I would love for it to be a film that brings the fanbase back together again. I don't know that is possible, but I would sure as heck love for it to happen.

 

People are prisoners of the moment. Most of the general audience isn't reading the never ending online drivel about Star Wars. Solo was a box office disappointment, but fans didn't hate it. There's a bunch of shows coming out people are excited to see in the next two years. IX will easily make a billion unless JJ delivers a disaster. Star Wars is fine.

 

Indeed. TROS has two aces, its the End of Skywalker Saga and its Carrie Fisher’s last film. I predict many want to say goidbye to Leia and Carrie, just as they did to Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Add these aces to loyalist fans (those who love SW and experiance all shades of SW) and a billion is all but certain.

 

As @DailyPlunge has pointed out, the performance of TROS will affect the future of Star Wars movies. This could be part of the reason why they haven’t announced which films are coming in 2022-2026, as they are still figuring which films are getting made and which ones aren’t. I imagine how well Disney+ does will also play a role in helping them plan out the future and will also help them decide if they might want to start leaning towards streaming more than the big screen.

Personally, I really hope Rian’s trilogy gets to see the light of day. I’m really excited to see a totally new Star Wars film that isn’t part of the Skywalker Saga and also isn’t a spin-off film within that saga. While I’ve really enjoyed most of what’s been released since the Disney buyout, I’m excited for some new stories that don’t rely on what came before. I’d imagine that it will take place after TROS and the questionable rumor of there being no Jedi or lightsabers involved actually gets me more excited to see what he’s cooked up!

And for the record, the head of Disney Parks wasn’t fired because of Galaxy’s Edge supposedly “failing”, her position was eliminated entirely and her departure was a mutual decision. The parks returning to the way they were run previously before the position was created only two years ago. (Not really relevant to the topic of this thread, but there seemed to be some confusion about this.)

 

I personally would love Disney add to their plus streaming network a Sith series aftef The Mandalorian’s first season is live and available. If Disney wants to embrace some darker narratives, then where better than Bogan’s acolytes?

 

There was no announcement at all, especially at Celebration. In fact the release of information came on May 7, 2019 which was what 3 weeks after Celebration. What did occur was a release of currently scheduled films and like I have posted several times if you go by that schedule then Disney is getting out of movies. The schedule has 2 films in 2023, and then 1 each 2024 through 2027. As for Galaxies Edge it opened with only 1/2 the major attractions. That is why we pushed off our visit until January. Not to mention California Season pass holders werent even allowed to use the pass over the summer. As for the Orlando Park I know it opened to huge crowds then the hurricane came and I dont know what it has been like since. I do know that still neither park has one of the two major attractions open yet. If you were going to make a trip for it why would you go now?

Funny and sad little things I recently saw was that on Reddit one of the Subreddits which is very anti The Last Jedi had an interesting stat. I guess with Reddit you can get statistics about the members of a Subreddit and the 2nd and 5th most Subreddits the members of The Last Jedi Subreddit were also members of Incel Subreddits. The #1 Subrreddit they were members of was the TROS Subreddit.

Here is the link to the Disney Information released on May 7, 2019.
https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-studios-announces-film-release-schedule/

 

I think I was becoming a prisoner of the moment myself, as I've been subjected to a lot of that online drivel lately. But I hope you're right.

 

I did a check and discovered that I first started doubting there would be a Rian Johnson trilogy in May of 2018 with "As for Rian Johnson's trilogy.... well I'll believe it when I see it". In early June that became "I don't think we are ever going to see a Rian Johnson trilogy" and by the end of that same month I adopted my oft-repeated "There will be no Rian Johnson trilogy" mantra. Got bashed quite a bit for that statement but never once wavered, even when RJ himself posted his "yup production is continuing! nothing to see here!" tweets.

Kevin Feige is the #1 guy at Marvel Studios. Just today he got another title added to his position with Marvel. If he does produce a Star Wars film, he will be doing so as the #1 guy, and certainly not subordinate to Kathleen Kennedy. He isn't going to take a demotion to go to a smaller studio.

Same here. There was nothing about TFF anywhere in my local area.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 16, 2019, Original Post Date: Oct 16, 2019 ---

It is widely speculated by reliable sources (sources who don't give a crap about Star Wars itself so they have no reason to spin anything) that several managerial positions were eliminated because of how poor Galaxy's Edge is doing, including the 15 year Disney vet most responsible for overseeing the whole thing.

If the 2 events are not related, then it's one heck of a coincidence.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 16, 2019 ---

Don't be so sure it gets a billion. It is trending to be pretty close to that number and could fall on either side of that benchmark.


MOD EDIT

 

"Disney blamed the lower traffic on its decision to block out annual pass-holders and raise park ticket prices."

Yeah blocking out people all summer that, especially at Disneyland, make up a size-able amount of the attendance has nothing to do with attendance.

I am sure Disney did all that restructuring just to hide the fact they were firing someone. Someone who moved into a position in March 2018 far after Galaxies Edge construction let alone design was well under way. Yeah Catherine Powell was fired because of The Last Jedi causing Star Wars to die. People are really reaching.

 

I think this is an important subject, and it probably deserves its own thread. Even if you love the Disney-era Star Wars films (I personally love TFA and RO, feel mixed on TLJ and Solo), you need to admit that something's rotten in Denmark.

I'm surprised more people aren't talking about the Triple Force Friday flop. At most, major retailers had a small end-cap, and in all instances it was 1) picked dry before midday and 2) completely overshadowed by Frozen 2 marketing. At least on the toy front, Disney has zero confidence in this.

And to keep things on topic, I really don't think the RJ trilogy is happening. Honestly, I doubt any of the announced movies will happen, except maybe Feige's film. Seeing it all on a timeline like this, you can't deny that something is brewing, and I sense a big change on the horizon.

 

Yes my Target was totally picked over by 7AM when I arrived. Still I need to ask what do people expect the kids to rush out and purchase. I have said it dozens of times. For kids there is very little new merchandise Disney took the route which lead to declining toy sales and that isnt the quality of the films. It is the decision to go with old designs for fans that cant give up the OT. The vast majority of products are just tweaks of existing designs. Yea a new X-Wing just like the old X-Wing. Yea a new Falcon, just like the old Falcon. I mean come on what did you expect. Did you expect retailers to go nuts? The stuff I saw flying off the shelves is stuff collectors love. Stuff like Funko Pops.

 

I am one who, like you enjoyed TFA for what it was. I REALLY love Rogue One. I watch that darn thing almost once a week or so. TLJ, well my opinion of that film is well known. As for Solo I really enjoyed it. I was sad when, on opening Saturday I sat in a massive theater with 4 other people watching it. At that point I knew something was up.

Yep. Something is up. Will they suddenly announce RJ is still doing a film in the spring? Sure, that is possible. But his body language doesn't bode well for that. I can only guess, and let me make it clear, that is what I'm doing, guessing (speculating, whatever) that KK will be slowly moved out and perhaps KF is going to be used in some sort of transition. Maybe they offered Rian the chance to do a film(s) for Disney+ and he said thanks but no thanks? Maybe the rumor that Iger and Horn didn't care for TLJ coupled with the major drop off from week 1-2 plus toy sales issues, etc... means they will move away from the Rian Johnson trilogy idea.

My favorite saying is "we will see" and it is apt for this situation.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 16, 2019, Original Post Date: Oct 16, 2019 ---

I have no idea what they put out because our local Targets and Walmarts had nothing. And this isn't a small town. The total area population is like 2million. The employees said they received nothing and one said they had low sales of Star Wars toys so didn't want to get burned again.

 

Understood and think about it. What new toys? It is the same stuff. Why would they order now? Toy sales are down across the board and even if my kids were younger would I run out and purchase them another X-Wing. If there are new designs in TROS they are being hidden for now.

 

I complained when they made a big deal about the "Sith Troopers" back in the spring and was shot down for it. I collect Star Wars toys myself. Not everything, but I do collect stuff I like/think is cool/etc. Anyway I switched to Hot Toys because... Well why wouldn't I? But also every thing they've been putting out lately, at least for me, is crap. I think it is a chicken/egg situation though. Are they putting out "safe" retreds because they last two films products didn't sale, or is it that they didn't sale because the products were safe?

I think we will never REALLY know. Or not until far after the fact. I personally think there is just enough evidence for us to believe what we want to believe.

But to keep this on topic, I'm with Wolfpack. I don't see Johnson getting a trilogy. He'll move on and make the films he wants to make, and Star Wars will move on.

 

So do I and so do my kids. We have things we collect, not everything. I really enjoy that Amazon drops them on my doorstep. Thus no need to head to Target and Walmart, etc.

 

It would be interesting to see actual sales figures. Of course we never will.

I have a love/hate relationship with Amazon. I love the convenience, but when it comes to toys, especially toys I've not seen in person, unless it's Hot Toys, I'd like to see it. For me at least, there is something about seeing it in person. I'm probably just a bit weird like that.

 

This is off topic, but I really don't get the hand-wringing about toys. I understand the history of Star Wars toys and the collections angle, but this kind of reminds me of the baseball card boom in the 80s early 90s. Suddenly there were tons of cards and their value became worthless.

Star Wars used to be a event films that came out every 3 years. So the toys were a part of that. Now there's a Star Wars film just about every year. There's no way people are gonna buy all this stuff. Also, people in general aren't buying toys anymore. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and I might by a shirt, but the closest thing to a toy is a Funko on my desk (Yoda of course).

Most of the complaints we see about current Star Wars is observational bias applying how Star Wars was before Diseny and attempting to apply it in a different age.

His role just got larger at Marvel so coming over to Lucasfilm doesn't seem like it's in the cards. He's more likely to replace Horn than Kennedy at this point. I don't think Kennedy is going anywhere for awhile. The idea she's doing a poor job in internet nonsense.

 

Wish Rian Johnson all the best, but I'll be extremely happy if he never gets another chance at a Star Wars title again. Just isn't good enough. Loved TFA, RO (favorite of all SW), and Solo. Looking forward to IX. If IX tanks Kennedy is gone.