‘Star Wars’ Director Rian Johnson Discusses Fan Outrage Over ‘The Last Jedi’

The backlash doesn't bother the director.

Star Wars The Last Jedi John Boyega Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, has recently reflected on the backlash he received from fans over the film.

The Last Jedi is probably the most divisive entry in Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. While the film has its vocal proponents, many vehemently disagreed with its handling of Luke Skywalker, the mystery of Rey’s parentage and the shocking death of Supreme Leader Snoke.

In a recent interview, Rian Johnson reflected on the backlash The Last Jedi received and how he has handled the fan outrage over his Star Wars film.

Rian Johnson Can Handle The Haters

Speaking to Empire about the reaction to The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson said he had to learn not to let such criticisms get to him.

The director, who was reflecting on his Star Wars film five years on from its release, addressed the initial difficulty he felt in handling negative reactions on social media. However, Johnson went on to say he felt it was a “healthy” experience that taught him he shouldn’t hope to please everyone.

Rian Johnson said of the response to The Last Jedi:

“It’s been a process. At the beginning, it was not easy. It was incredibly painful. Before the movie came out, if one person said something slightly snarky to me on Twitter, I felt a deep, ‘Oh my God, there’s someone out there that doesn’t like me… I have to fix this.’…

“In the context of social media, and maybe in the context just of being a human being in the world, it’s a very healthy thing to have been put through the fire on. You could also make the argument that those nerve-endings that have been seared off is a bad thing.”

It sounds like the director has come to terms with responses to The Last Jedi and the outrage from certain audience members isn’t likely to get to him anymore. That’s probably for the best, as Johnson also recently confirmed his own Star Wars trilogy is still in the works at Lucasfilm.

The next Star Wars project from Lucasfilm will be Andor on Disney Plus. Here’s the synopsis:

“The ‘Andor’ series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.”

Andor stars Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Genevieve O’Reilly. Tony Gilroy, Dan Gilroy, Stephen Schiff, and Beau Willimon served as the writers of the Star Wars series while Toby Haynes, Susanna White, and Benjamin Caron directed the episodes.

Andor will premiere Disney Plus on September 21, 2022, with three episodes. Stay tuned for all the latest news on the future of the Star Wars franchise, and subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more great video content!

Source: Empire