Director Rian Johnson is one lucky guy. He has been handed the proverbial keys to the kingdom (in this case the Magic Kingdom) and is set to direct "Star Wars: Episode VIII" after J.J. Abrams' "Episode VII" drops in 2015.
Johnson previously directed the cult hit "Brick" and the time-travel action flick "Looper" with Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Johnson recently opened up about his experience in the new "Star Wars" universe, and talked about how J.J. Abrams is bringing an old school, practical approach to the special effects in "Episode VII."
"They're doing so much practical building for this one. It's awesome," Johnson said on the latest Girls in Hoodies podcast. "I think people are coming back around to [practical effects]. It feels like there is sort of that gravity pulling us back toward it. I think that more and more people are hitting kind of a critical mass in terms of the CG-driven action scene lending itself to a very specific type of action scene, where physics go out the window and it becomes so big so quick."
Johnson has to be a little nervous about the scale and scope of the film that he is taking on after Abrams. Any director, no matter the awards or accolades they have received, realizes that this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. And it sounds like Johnson is up to the challenge.
During the podcast (via The Hollywood Reporter), Johnson said, "I don't have the terror I kind of expected I would, at least not yet. I'm sure I will at some point," says Johnson. About his own Star Wars movie, Johnson joshed that it's "boring to talk about, because the only thing I can really say is, I'm just happy."
Regarding the CGI effects-laden "Star Wars" films, Johnson sounds like he is set on making "Episode VIII" his own way. When discussing the special effects and the state of CGI, Johnson had this to say: "I probably sound like a grumpy old man talking about it (special effects)," Johnson continued. "I do wonder because I think kids are growing up watching those and that's the thing that they love now, so I don't know whether it is a generational thing, and it could be."
Whatever happens with "Episode VIII," it seems that the film is in very capable hands with Johnson, especially with the practical groundwork that Abrams is setting up. While the prequels were overpowered with entirely too much CGI, Johnson's approach to the iconic film series sounds like a more classic take on the film reminiscent of the original trilogy.
