I think how you react to this news will largely depend on what your thoughts are on The Last Jedi. If you loved Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, then you’ve probably been clamouring for his new trilogy to come to fruition since they announced it back in 2017. However, if you’re one who didn’t resonate with the eighth episode of the Skywalker Saga, then you’ve probably been hoping Johnson stays far far away from Star Wars altogether. Johnson himself had previously assured fans on several occasions that his Star Wars trilogy which would focus on a completely new set of characters will indeed be happening.
But it looks like that may no longer be the case, or at the very least, he seems less confident than he’s ever been. In an interview with BANG Showbiz to promote his upcoming whodunit film Knives Out, Rian Johnson was asked when fans can expect to see him back in the galaxy far far away again. Johnson appeared uncertain in his response:
“Well we’ll see. I’m still talking to Lucasfilm, they’re figuring out what they’re doing and we’ll see what happens,” Johnson explained. “But I’d be thrilled if it happens, and I’m working on my own stuff too.”
This reinforces what Rian Johnson said in a previous interview: “If it’s possible for me to squeeze in another film before or while working on that, I will.” While I was previously very optimistic about Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy happening, I too have to concede that it’s probably not going to happen anymore.
It isn’t just Johnson’s uncertainty that makes me wary. When Disney previously announced its upcoming slate, it was mentioned that Star Wars will be taking a two-year break after The Rise of Skywalker, after which we’ll be getting a film in 2022, 2024 and 2026. These films would most likely be David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ trilogy. Recently, news also broke that Marvel Studios chief, Kevin Feige is developing a Star Wars film. However, there hasn’t been even a sliver of updates on Rian Johnson’s trilogy. I guess for those of us who are dying to see it happen, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed.
