Star Wars is arguably the biggest franchise in the film world, as its lasted decades of filmmaking and accrued generations of fans. And since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, there’s been a ton of new and exciting projects arriving, expanding the galaxy far, far away in the process. The franchise is showing no signs of slowing down, as The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is developing a trilogy of his very own.
Almost nothing is known about Rian Johnson’s upcoming additions to the galaxy, including when they’ll take place in the timeline of the franchise. As such, plenty of rumors have been swirling around, with the most recent being that Johnson would be aiming at G ratings. Now he’s shut that down, and in the perfect (worldess) way.
Well, that seems pretty cut and dry. Rian Johnson is used to Star Wars speculation and even hate being thrown his way. As such, he’s able to shut down rumors simply by tweeting out a GIF, and letting the internet relay the message.
Rian Johnson’s recent tweet is the just the most recent example of the director using social media to directly communicate with the rabid Star Wars fanbase. Ahead of The Last Jedi’s release, he would tease what Episode VIII might contain, and keep the fans hyped about the most recent installment in the main franchise. Of course, things took a darker turn once The Last Jedi finally arrived in theaters.
The Last Jedi was ultimately the most divisive Star Wars movie yet, as Rian Johson purposefully subverted fan expectations for his first addition to the franchise. This started early on the film, as Mark Hamill's jaded Luke Skywalker threw his lightsaber over his shoulder, and continually told Rey (and moviegoers) that things weren't going to go as she thought. Drastic changed were made to Luke, Leia, and he debuted new Force abilities that previously weren't seen before.
While the fans seem split on The Last Jedi (and Rian Johnson received a ton of hate), clearly Lucasfilm and Disney were happy with his work. So much so that they handed him the keys to a brand new trilogy. Because with Episode IX arriving this December, the Skywalker Saga will finally come to an end. So the question is, what’s next?
Rian Johnson isn’t the only filmmaker who is crafting a set of new Star Wars films for Lucasfilm. Game of Thrones creators D.B Weiss and David Benioff also cut a deal to craft Star Wars movies, with the new rumor indicating they might get their own bonafide trilogy as well.
One aspect of the beloved space opera’s future that is unclear is the state of standalone films. While moviegoers enjoyed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Ron Howard’s Solo was the franchise’s first box office flop. And since then, there’s been no indication of more spinoffs arriving.
Episode IX will arrive in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
