In a little over a month, we’ll mark the eight-year anniversary of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If you’re a fan of the franchise, you know that the film was, is, and likely always will be the most controversial of the entire saga.  It’s one of those “you either love it or you hate it” type of films…. And over the years since its release I’ve met a lot more fans in the former category than the latter. Perhaps that’s why director Rian Johnson continues to defend and justify his controversial film to this day, most recently at the Newport Beach Film Festival.  

Rian Johnson; Star Wars;
Rian Johnson (Image: Shutterstock)

At the festival, the director offered this when asked if fan reaction to The Last Jedi is what derailed his originally proposed Star Wars trilogy:

“No, not at all. In fact, it’s the reason that I wanted to. My overall experience with putting the movie out, and what you’re talking about with fan feedback. I mean, first of all, I’m a lifelong Star Wars fan. So I know the deal. I know that Star Wars fans are passionate about this stuff. We love the stuff we love, we hate the stuff we hate, and we fight about it. And that’s been happening since the original trilogy.”

Rian Johnson continues to defend Star Wars: The Last Jedi

There’s a lot to dissect in just those few sentences. First, he says that fan reaction is not what prevented him from making the new trilogy. However, he goes on to say that fan reaction was why he “wanted to” still make it. Perhaps he should just be honest. Sure, as a director he wants to do a new trilogy. Notwithstanding, the stark reality is that negative fan reaction to The Last Jedi is exactly why Lucasfilm refused to hand the Star Wars reigns back to Rian Johnson. He has to know that, even if wishful thinking or ego prevent him from admitting it out loud.

Rian Johnson; Star Wars; The Last Jedi
What happens next just may be one of the most controversial and hated scenes in all of Star Wars. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

One of the reasons for fans’ visceral reaction to TLJ also rests with his assertion that he is a “lifelong” Star Wars fan. Ask a lot of lifelong fans, especially those in my peer group that grew up with the original trilogy, and they’ll tell you – What he did with Luke Skywalker in TLJ was completely contrary to all established lore for the character. Even Mark Hamill himself once said straight up “I hate what you’ve done with my character.” If the man who literally embodies the character says you’re doing it wrong, most directors would have listened. Not Rian Johnson.

Sowing seeds of discord

Johnson would go on to  say that “[t]he reality is Star Wars has always been something that has meant different things to different people. And I think that’s part of the fun and the passion of it as fans, is arguing about it respectfully.”

Star Wars:; Rian Johnson; The Last Jedi
As a fan, would you have thought Luke Skywalker capable of this? (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Look at everything he’s said over the years in defense of TLJ. One common thread, something he always brings up, is how Star Wars fans argue over Star Wars. It’s almost as if he made a film so out of keeping with the rest of the franchise just to anger fans on purpose. Maybe that was his way of ensuring its relevance. I suppose, in that aspect, mission accomplished, because here we are still talking about it…. Because his actions certainly ensured that there won’t be a new trilogy to discuss otherwise.