Lawrence Kasdan Says ‘Star Wars Episode 8’ Will Be “Some Weird Thing”
The great thing aboutLawrence Kasdanis that he’s critically bulletproof. No matter how many bad movies he makes (and he’s the main guy responsible forDreamcatcher), he’s still the man who wroteRaiders of the Lost Ark,Body Heat, andThe Big Chill. And he’s allowed to say whatever the hell he wants aboutStar Warsbecause he wroteThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi. Are you, lowlyStar Warsfan, really going to argue with the guy who actually put words in the mouths of Han, Luke, and Leia?
DirectorJ.J. Abramsbrought Kasdan back into the Lucasfilm fold forStar Wars: The Force Awakens, with the two of themco-writing the screenplay togetherafter the original writer departed the project. He brings with him a certain amount of goodwill – he knows what made the best movies in the series tick because he was there. Which is why this new interview, where he explains just how differentRian Johnson’sStar Wars Episode 8will be and howStar Warsshould always be a little goofy, is vital reading.
Kasdan sat down with theLA Timesand he wasted no time in saying things that will turn some heads. When describing the future of the Star Wars series (Kasdan is also writingthe Han Solo spin-off filmwith his son, Jon Kasdan), he made it clear that fans are in for something completely different:
These movies will all be so different. [“Episode VIII” director] Rian Johnson is a friend of mine — he’s going to make some weird thing. If you’ve seen Rian’s work, you know it’s not going be like anything that’s ever been in “Star Wars.” You couldn’t have three more different people than J.J., Rian and [“Episode IX” director]Colin[Trevorrow]. Those movies will have the “Star Wars” saga as their basis, but everything else will be different. ThenPhil LordandChris Millerare going to make the Han Solo film and I can’t guess what that will be like — and I’m writing it!
You’ve got to love Kasdan complimenting Johnson, the immeasurably talented filmmaker behindBrickandLooper, by assuring everyone that hisStar Warsmovie is going to be “some weird thing.” The last thing we need is a director as unique as him just churning out studio product. Hearing someone so close to the process assure us that Rian Johnson is going make a Rian Johnson movie withEpisode 8is your Uplifting News of the Day.
The rest of the interview (which you’re able to and should read at the link above) is filled with little gems, like Kasdan admitting that he knows nothing about the Star Wars canon despite having written fourStar Warsmovies:
And with the canon — everyone refers to the canon, but it has zero meaning to me. I don’t know what the canon is. I cannot get that straight. […] I’ve written four “Star Wars” movies now, and I don’t know what the canon is.
And in a moment that is surely going to ruffle the feathers of a certain breed of Star Wars fanboy, Kasdan comes right and admits thatStar Wars, but its very nature, goofy and that we should embrace that:
The thing I always loved about “Star Wars” — and George had this when he made “A New Hope” and J.J. can hook into this very strongly — is that it’s goofy, you know? There are big issues and there’s some philosophy, but it’s basically goofy. And I think “The Force Awakens” is goofy — in the best way. Wherever there’s a question: Could that happen? Well, why not?
You know what?Star Warsisgoofy. It’s a movie series about a space wizards with laser swords. It can be dramatic and moving and exciting, but it’s still silly. Acknowledging that is the first step in truly appreciating what the series accomplishes and how the best movies so effectively blend tones. There’s nothing wrong with being a little goofy.
Star Wars: The Force Awakensopens onDecember 18, 2015,Star Wars Episode 8opens onMay 26, 2017, and Kasdan’s untitled Han Solo movie opens onMay 25, 2018.
