Why Rian Johnson Should Direct Star Wars Episode IX

Star Wars is one of, if not the most high-pressure franchises to work on in Hollywood. Its fans are unlike any other in the world, leading to pressures and expectations unlike any other, given that the property is one of the most unique of all time. It's no surprise, then, to learn that making these movies is quite a daunting task, and not everyone is up for the rigors of the job. Director Colin Trevorrow's exit from Star Wars: Episode IX, which comes on the heels of Phil Lord and Chris Miller being fired from the Han Solo solo movie, is the latest example of this.

In both cases, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy's relationships with the filmmakers became strained and unmanageable which resulted in them heading off into the sunset. While this directorial turbulence is obviously a matter of concern for fans, the more pressing matter is the question of who takes the final part of this trilogy forward.

J.J. Abrams launched things with The Force Awakens, and he had a pretty good relationship with everyone involved, from Lucasfilm to Disney, so it's clear that Kennedy can play ball with certain filmmakers. One of these is clearly Rian Johnson, the man who's bringing The Last Jedi to theaters in December, and whose name has been tossed into the ring once more for Episode IX. Given his rapport with the powers-that-be, and experience in the Star Wars universe, Johnson should be hired as he's perfectly placed to pull double duty and wrap the trilogy.

He brings a lot to the table, apart from just being a familiar face and his obvious fanboy-ism. In terms of the direction of the overall franchise, he knows exactly where it's heading. He actually worked on the script for Episode IX before Trevorrow and his writing partner Derek Connolly came on board. It should be relatively simple, then, for Johnson to help recalibrate the "script issues" that reportedly drove a wedge between Trevorrow and Kennedy.

He also worked very closely with Trevorrow to bridge the two films, so he has insider information on how to steer the continuity and keep it on track with what Lucasfilm has in mind. His re-appointment as Episode IX's director would also ensure a smooth flow between these two movies, which is as important as anything considering the level of anticipation fans have for them.

This cohesiveness would be ideal, as Johnson's the man who's not only giving Luke Skywalker his first dialogue in these new movies -- he's also rolling out major plot points such as Luke's apparently bitter outlook on the Jedi, Rey's tutelage, and how the relationship of Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren evolves. If The Force Awakens sowed these seeds, The Last Jedi will be the plants bursting from the ground, and Episode IX will see the garden come to full bloom.

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The Bottom Line Is, Johnson is Already One with the Star Wars Universe

It's quite common for there to be issues when lesser-known directors come on board monumental projects. Gareth Edwards had his problems, which led to Rogue One reshoots. Josh Trank was yanked from the Star Wars universe before he had a chance to make any headway after his Fantastic Four debacle. And, of course, the Lord/Miller issue came down to creative differences with Lawrence Kasdan, one of the universe's key architects since the George Lucas days.

But it doesn't matter if you're a small-name director or a big one, once there's a fallout with the studio, it usually ends one way -- with the falling of a directorial axe. Johnson has proven to be in Kennedy's good books, though, and considering that no incidents have popped up with The Last Jedi, we can assume she is a fan of his work. Johnson made it clear he was always given creative freedom when he took over reins from Abrams, but what matters more is that he knows how to work with and under the already-established higher-ups.

They know each other's work flows and overall on-set ethic, so this will be a trip they all experienced together already. That's a major hurdle overcome right there! Given that Johnson's creative team had to work through the death of Carrie Fisher together, he may well be the right choice for the follow-up as he's already navigated the franchise through arguably its most tragic period.

In terms of quality, Johnson's filmography is very solid. Movies like Brick, The Brothers Bloom and Looper show his wide range and now, he has a Hollywood blockbuster under his belt. Trevorrow's Jurassic World was financially successful but his filmography hasn't been as critically acclaimed as Johnson's so having Johnson follow up The Last Jedi would automatically assuage concerns of whether or not the new director is someone who could produce quality work. Johnson is the perfect blend of indie and Hollywood that Kennedy and company require to fulfill what Lucasfilm and Disney envision.

Perhaps the biggest key ingredient that cannot be discounted is his passion for the property. At last April's Star Wars Celebration, it showed when he met with fans who were camping at the event, highlighting just how much of a fanboy Johnson truly is.

The fact that Johnson took a while to sign up when Kennedy initially offered him the job showed that he wanted to do the franchise justice, because he knows that even if you're a fan, that doesn't mean you can automatically handle the task at hand. His decision to accept was meticulous and well considered because he didn't want to stain something that means so much to him. Most importantly, he wanted to ensure he was ideal for the job, and from what we've seen so far, he is. With someone who cares so much and is invested like Johnson is, it's difficult to see how you could go wrong.