The Rise of Skywalker Colin Trevorrow No Longer Directing Star Wars Episode IX

[2kt09]

Not a Trevorrow fan whatsoever, but his style seemed the most suitable for Star Wars than any other director, sans Abrams, attached to one of these thus far. So, I wonder if it was just LucasFilm getting cold feet after his latest feature.

 

[Marvolo]

You'd think Trevorrow is as bad as Uwe Ball or McG or John Leonetti on here. Dude only has 3 movies. One indie with a 90% rt rating, another a monster hit. Heck i didn't even think Book of Henry was as bad as people say. Hope he keeps his head up after this.

Book of Henry is the worst molehill into a mountain situation Ive seen on movie forums in a while. It was a $10 million dollar indie type film that made $4 million. His first rotten film in his career. Its such an inconsequential small film and such a tiny ****up that it shouldnt have even mattered to most people. But the way people act it was a $300 milllion blockbuster that made nothing at the boxoffice.

If you go to the director suggestion thread you'll see people suggesting Brad Bird. The director that **** the bed with Tomorrowland. A film that bombed at the box office and ended up losing Disney over $100 million. But that doesnt seen to matter in the case of Brad Bird.

Colin Trevorrow definitely doesnt deserve the hatred he has gotten and I also hope he keeps his head up and bounces back.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Book of Henry is the worst molehill into a mountain situation Ive seen on movie forums in a while. It was a $10 million dollar indie type film that made $4 million. His first rotten film in his career. Its such an inconsequential small film and such a tiny ****up that it shouldnt have even mattered to most people. But the way people act it was a $300 milllion blockbuster that made nothing at the boxoffice.

If you go to the director suggestion thread you'll see people suggesting Brad Bird. The director that **** the bed with Tomorrowland. A film that bombed at the box office and ended up losing Disney over $100 million. But that doesnt seen to matter in the case of Brad Bird.

Colin Trevorrow definitely doesnt deserve the hatred he has gotten and I also hope he keeps his head up and bounces back.

Someone showing they don't understand characters and story doesn't matter? Right... Guy was getting worse with every film. Wacky, off the way ideas that aren't inspired, just awful. This is before we get into how he hand the female characters of JW and The Book of Henry. Which I will say was poorly to be kind. As Rey is the main character of ST, tthe last thing we need is someone to **** that up.

Brad Bird did not write Tomorrowland and well... I liked it. I also understand why others don't, but I also know who wrote it. Bird has also made 3 of the best films of the last 20 years and made the really good Ghost Protocol. And he most certainly never made a Book of Henry.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Not a Trevorrow fan whatsoever, but his style seemed the most suitable for Star Wars than any other director, sans Abrams, attached to one of these thus far. So, I wonder if it was just LucasFilm getting cold feet after his latest feature.

The only Trevorrow film I have suffered through is Jurassic World, and based on that, I disagree vehemently. Someone who can't build tension to save his hide because he won't stop cutting too fast has no business directing Star Wars.

 

[2kt09]

The only Trevorrow film I have suffered through is Jurassic World, and based on that, I disagree vehemently. Someone who can't build tension to save his hide because he won't stop cutting too fast has no business directing Star Wars.

Genuinely didn't notice the editing as being any different than the average blockbuster. It's everything else that gave me a 'meh' experience, yet...
He made a crowd pleaser that wasn't as much of a snore (Edwards) and wasn't actively trying to change the formula (Lord & Miller)
whilst cashing in on those member berries.

Second only to Abrams he was as safe as they come.​

 

[TheVileOne]

I mean, I thought that editing was more of an issue with Star Trek Beyond by Justin Lin, and that was pretty critically well received. I thought the editing in Jurassic World was a lot more traditional.

 

[The Chris]

I thought the edit was pretty old fashioned myself. Heck the big ending to the T-Rex and Raptor vs Indominus Rex fight was done in a really nice long take for example.

 

[Man in the Suit]

Someone showing they don't understand characters and story doesn't matter? Right... Guy was getting worse with every film. Wacky, off the way ideas that aren't inspired, just awful. This is before we get into how he hand the female characters of JW and The Book of Henry. Which I will say was poorly to be kind. As Rey is the main character of ST, tthe last thing we need is someone to **** that up.

Brad Bird did not write Tomorrowland and well... I liked it. I also understand why others don't, but I also know who wrote it. Bird has also made 3 of the best films of the last 20 years and made the really good Ghost Protocol. And he most certainly never made a Book of Henry.

He has a story and screenplay credit.

I'll never forgive Brad Bird. He's the reason we're even talking about Trevorrow.

 

[Lord]

If you go to the director suggestion thread you'll see people suggesting Brad Bird. The director that **** the bed with Tomorrowland. A film that bombed at the box office and ended up losing Disney over $100 million. But that doesnt seen to matter in the case of Brad Bird.

Colin Trevorrow definitely doesnt deserve the hatred he has gotten and I also hope he keeps his head up and bounces back.

Tomorrowland was a flawed film, not a terrible one. There many reasons for it bombing, but it wasn't even a Lone Ranger situation where critics despised it from the start. Doesn't Disney even have a history of 70s to 2000s films that were bombs but have gained a cult following over the years. Tomorrowland actualy was pretty entertaing IMAO, and most agree that it had an important message. As far as i see, Brad Bird is like Spielberg in the sense that even a failure of his is still very well directed and shows a heart.

Besides that film, Brad Bird's resume has been impecable. The Iron Giant, Incredibles, Ratatouille, Ghost Protocol...all of these are slightly traditional in plot and execution, just like a good Star Wars film should be, but have been so well made that they stand among the greatest mainstream productions of the past decades.

The Book of Henry was straight up despised everywhere. And even before that, many weren't sold on the idea of him as a director of Episode IX. Jurassic World was entertaining but it's treatment of the characters was quite poor. He felt like an odd choice when compared with J. J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, whose resumes were much stronger.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Did this really surprise anyone? Yeah, the Book of Henry thing SHOULD be a nonfactor, but clearly they have VERY specific ideas about where these films should go and how they should feel. It almost seems like they just want them all directed by an AI, and at the end of it, they can just slap a trendy genre director's name on it.

 

[BatLobster]

Colin Trevorrow definitely doesnt deserve the hatred he has gotten and I also hope he keeps his head up and bounces back.

Maybe he doesn't deserve the outright hatred (I thought Jurassic World was okay), but it's also very debatable whether he ever deserved the concluding chapter of the Star Wars sequel trilogy too. Ever since his announcement, there's just been a feeling of "we can do better than this".

I wish him all the best and hope he's able to bounce back too. Even with the recent setbacks, he did direct a monster hit in JW, so I'm sure he still will have plenty of opportunities going forward. It just wasn't meant to be with Star Wars.

Let's hope that Johnson isn't burnt out and feels compelled to come back and conclude the story he's had a huge part in telling. I think that's the best possible scenario here. Fresh blood would be nice in theory, but I think with all the recent issues they've been having with directors, a trusted and steady hand is probably the best thing for the production. And we know getting some up and coming auteur isn't going to be the way they go either. So if we're going with a safe pick, I'd rather it be Rian Johnson who is still a fresh voice and may have a lot more ideas he wants to explore as opposed to an 'old guard' director.

It just makes the most sense. Let Johnson direct, go for a Dec 2019 or heck even May 2020 release date if that's what's needed. Do it right, don't rush it. You've got the audience in the palm of your hand, especially if TLJ goes over huge.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

I'm a big Rian Johnson fan myself, but isn't that putting a bit MUCH faith in the man considering nobody has seen the finished product yet?

 

[terry78]

As an indie director, if a massive studio options you to helm a classic franchise film how many of them actually say "you know, I'm not really ready for this kind of thing, let someone else do it?" That rarely happens. It's a ****ing childhood dream for a lot of them.

 

[The Chris]

True. If i get to where i want to go and get offered a Jurassic Park movie I'm jumping on it.

 

[Brother Jack]

I'm a big Rian Johnson fan myself, but isn't that putting a bit MUCH faith in the man considering nobody has seen the finished product yet?

Perhaps, but so far VIII is the only film that hasn't had any production shakeups. Johnson has said he's had as much leeway on it as he has on his own films. That's the main counter argument (the only one, really) against Lucasfilm being anti-collaborative micromanagers.

 

[BatLobster]

I'm all for waiting for TLJ to be released before officially signing anyone to direct IX. I have a hunch Disney and the fans will want Johnson back, but there's no need to rush it.

The relentless release schedule Disney set up for themselves as been a problem since Day 1, IMO. It was never going to work, especially once they decided to start from scratch with the script. JJ had to fight to get more time. Then VIII got delayed. Yet they're still apparently chasing a May 2019 release date for IX (I think?). If they still are, they need to let that go. Let TLJ come out, do its thing, give us and themselves a chance for us to catch our breath before the craziness ramps up again. If it's going to be Johnson returning, give him a chance to sink his teeth into the story. There's no reason at all Episode IX should have to come out May or even December 2019. 3 year waits between Star Wars films used to be the norm. It also gives the audience more of a chance to grow with the films, and vice versa.

We also don't know how much the existing storyline was compromised after losing Carrie, so I just really hope they take their time with it and get it right.

 

[Wheels]

I don't hate Colin Trevorrow the way some seem to, I would have been alright with him staying on, but I'd be lying if the thought hadn't crossed my mind that he might just do a giant homage to ROTJ and call it a day. That might be an unfair thought, but there it is.

 

[Grootster]

Because every indication suggests that VIII will be great. Frankly, Johnson is the best filmmaker they've yet gotten to make a Star Wars film. VIII is the only film that has gone on without any change ups at any level of production. It's clear that Lucasfilm is happy with what he's done.

But there really isn't that much to go on yet. We have one teaser that shows nothing and a lots of promotional art. We still know next to nothing about the storyline, writing, or even the visual style. Don't get me wrong, these things could be fine in the final movie, but it seems a bit too early to judge whether or not he should come back for the third movie.

 

[jmc]

As an indie director, if a massive studio options you to helm a classic franchise film how many of them actually say "you know, I'm not really ready for this kind of thing, let someone else do it?" That rarely happens. It's a ****ing childhood dream for a lot of them.

Reality isn't always as good as the dream. Lucasfilm is proving that.

 

[Abudefduf]

Colin Trevorrow’s Firing From Star Wars Is Another Reminder That No Director Will Ever Be Bigger Than the Franchise

But to hear speculation from a ranking Hollywood movie insider with direct knowledge of the productions on both The Book of Henry and Jurassic World (and who requested anonymity out of concern for sensitive ongoing business relationships), Trevorrow’s firing may have come more directly as a consequence of being “difficult.”

“During the making of Jurassic World, he focused a great deal of his creative energies on asserting his opinion,” the executive explains. “But because he had been personally hired by Spielberg, nobody could say, ‘You’re fired.’ Once that film went through the roof and he chose to do Henry, [Trevorrow] was unbearable. He had an egotistical point of view— and he was always asserting that.”

Then, during preproduction on Episode IX, Trevorrow’s relationship with Lucasfilm top brass became reportedly “unmanageable” over the course of “repeated stabs at multiple drafts” of the script.

“When the reviews for Book of Henry came out, there was immediately conjecture that Kathy was going to dump him because they weren’t thrilled with working with him anyway,” the executive continues. “He’s a difficult guy. He’s really, really, really confident. Let’s call it that.”

 

[jmc]

In all honesty Lucasfilm may as well not bother with hiring big name directors and just find the people who will follow whatever orders they demand. Clearly there's a level of control over Star Wars they want to keep, so they may as well just hire people willing to do what they want.

 

[Infinity9999x]

In all honesty Lucasfilm may as well not bother with hiring big name directors and just find the people who will follow whatever orders they demand. Clearly there's a level of control over Star Wars they want to keep, so they may asy well just hire people willing to do what they want.

Eh, probably more in the middle. Johnson has made comments that he felt fine in terms of creative restrictions. If the above article is true, Colin got too big for his britches and it came back to bite him. Lucasfilm may also be demanding, but that's par for the course with blockbuster filmmaking unless you become a Spielburg, Cameron, Nolan etc. And he isn't that.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

Colin Trevorrow’s Firing From Star Wars Is Another Reminder That No Director Will Ever Be Bigger Than the Franchise

Hit-piece 101. Honestly... that reeks of BS and sour grapes from someone with an axe to grind.

Saying the director is "opinionated" as a criticism is an oxymoron. It's their job to be opinionated... be hard-asses... do whatever it takes in the best interest of the film. Keep in mind, Trevorrow's working future was on the line with Jurassic World. He would have been an idiot not to fight on every decision. At the end of the day, any perceived failures would be on him as the director - regardless of the fact that Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall were above his pay-grade and the final decision makers. Judging by the spectacular legs Jurassic World sustained after its opening weekend, there was obviously something to said opinions he fought on. By that same (flawed) logic, Patty Jenkins was an absolute monster to deal with on Wonder Woman. She had to fight to get the now-famous No Man's Land scene in the film... and that was a reshoot.

Clearly it's coming from within Lucasfilm hoping to keep the narrative away from all the directors fired (and just how bad that makes one Mrs. Kennedy look) to elsewhere. The Book of Henry may be a dog (I don't know... and frankly most people smack-talking it don't either given it's lack of business) but it was never going to bust a nut at the box-office and Lucasfilm were always aware of it. Trevorrow had been developing that for years.

Something just isn't adding up to suggest it's all his fault.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

They realized they shouldn't have hired him in the first place. They didn't bring in someone else to write for no reason.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

Writers are brought in to touch-up big films all the time. The question is how big a changes was said writer doing... to a story/script that was originally signed off on by the studio, mind you.