Last month it was revealed that Brick and Looper director Rian Johnson had landed the gig of writing and directing Star Wars: Episode VIII, as well as writing the treatment and potentially directing Star Wars: Episode IX. Now the filmmaker has chatted briefly about securing the director’s chair on the follow-up(s) to J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII during the FilmSpotting Podcast (via Slash Film):
“I’m really excited about all the things I can’t tell you. The thought of it made me so completely joyfully happy. I wanted to to play in this world, of literally the first movie my dad put me in the car to see. I can only assume it was a clerical error, like in the movie Brazil. There’s a ‘Brian Johnson’ out there who is really mad.”
Johnson then went on to suggest a viewing order for newcomers to the Star Wars universe: “I would do Episodes IV–VI then I–III. Storytelling-wise, IV–VI were constructed without the knowledge of the past… With these films, I am trying to harken back to the original Star Wars… Christmas Special. We do have Jefferson Starship.”
Originally published July 29, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
