While many Star Wars fans were underwhelmed by the sequel trilogy overall, a new trilogy is still on the horizon that is perhaps even more intriguing. Rian Johnson will be helming the upcoming trilogy which is said to be focused on a totally different aspect to the franchise separate from the Skywalker saga. Johnson is, of course, the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, one of the most divisive movies in the franchise. Some fans may be wary of his return to the Star Wars franchise as fans of the original trilogy felt Johnson’s willingness to play with the legacy of the story and its characters made The Last Jedi such a disappointment. But while that approach might not have worked for everyone within the Skywalker saga, it could make for a very exciting new trilogy.
The Last Jedi was the second movie in the sequel trilogy following J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While many fans expected this movie to bridge the gap between the beginning and the end of this new trilogy, Johnson clearly had his own story he wanted to tell, one that subverted a lot of the fan expectations. While Abrams seemed to set up various mysteries to be explored over the course of the trilogy, Johnson gave his own answers that were unexpected and unsatisfying to some.
Countless fan theories attempted to predict Rey’s true parentage only for Johnson to reveal that they were no one significant, a decision Abrams retconned in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But the aspect that fans, and even Mark Hamill himself, most passionately disagreed with was the depiction of Luke Skywalker. After being absent from most of The Force Awakens, Luke plays a pivotal role in The Last Jedi, but as a very different Luke than fans remembered. Torn apart by guilt over his past failures, Luke remains in exile, refusing to join the Resistance even as Rey begs for his help. While Hamill’s performance was praised and some fans loved the emotional arc Luke goes through within the movie, many expressed disappointment in the iconic hero’s inactive ending. Many criticized Johnson as disrespecting the legacy of Star Wars and subverting the story just to deliver a more unexpected movie.
Just before the release of The Last Jedi, it was announced that Johnson would also be writing a separate trilogy set in the Star Wars universe but dealing with a new story. However, following that initial announcement, very little has been said about the new trilogy. During Disney Investors Day 2020, Lucasfilm announced a huge slate of new Star Wars projects, but with no mention of Johnson’s trilogy, many suspected it had been canceled. However, recent reports suggest it is still very much in the works, though likely won’t be arriving anytime soon. At the moment, it is the only Star Wars trilogy in the works and even those who hated how Johnson’s The Last Jedi treated the franchise should be excited to see what he does with a trilogy of his own.
Regardless of what one’s opinion of The Last Jedi is, it is a clear sign that Johnson wants to do something new with Star Wars and that’s a good thing. Perhaps characters like Luke Skywalker are too precious to be tinkered with which explains the harsh reaction to Johnson’s version. But his willingness to be subversive with the material could end up being one of the biggest strengths of this new trilogy and help revive the movie side of the Star Wars universe.
Currently, the biggest thing in Star Wars is happening on Disney+ with The Mandalorian and its various spinoffs. It seems as though this show is just what fans had been waiting for – a Star Wars story that totally embraces the original trilogy and tries to recapture its magic. There is no denying that The Mandalorian is a big hit, but how much longer will that last? Nostalgia is fun but Star Wars needs to take risks with its projects if it wants to grow going forward. Johnson is the kind of filmmaker who is willing to take those risks.
Along with challenging the legacy of Luke Skywalker, Johnson was willing to examine and recontextualize various aspects of this universe. The character of DJ (Benicio Del Toro) introduced the idea that there are grey areas within this universe that has always seemed so black and white. The boy with the broom at the end of the movie suggested that there are Force-sensitive people out there who have nothing to do with the Skywalkers. These are exciting ideas that can be explored in ways that will open up the universe. Abrams’s Star Wars sequels showed how dull it can be just trying to deliver on what fans are expecting. Even if some see The Last Jedi as the worst of the franchise, Johnson is the right man to get his own trilogy because he will undoubtedly try to do something new.
The mistake of the sequel trilogy was having no clear vision. Johnson’s vision of Star Wars was in the middle of a lot of other visions. With his own trilogy, the possibilities for what he can do with this universe are thrilling to think of and just what Star Wars needs right now.
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