The Force Awakens Star Wars VII Director? - Part 1

[paladinryan]

And he just tweeted that he was saying he's out of the running. I feel like we're going to get a leak this week...

 

[paladinryan]

I'm sure all these suspected directors want Disney to announce this so they can go on with their lives. lol

I think things have reached a fever pitch and now's the time for Disney to make a splash in the news.

 

[Neo_3]

And he just tweeted that he was saying he's out of the running. I feel like we're going to get a leak this week...

Who said this?

 

[ThePhantasm]

Trevorrow

 

[ThePhantasm]

Via Twitter:

To clarify, there is another film we all love that I'm currently trying not to mess up. Odds I will direct Episode VII: 3720 to 1.

 

[paladinryan]

Honestly, I feel sorry for the likes of Treverrow and Bird--having to dispel these rumors and then say "but I'm doing something that's also fun!" And then the tweeters walk away sullenly. lol

 

[paladinryan]

On the other hand, in the case of Treverrow this rumor could only help awareness of him and his career. Maybe that was Lucas's plan all along. I bet he'll get a SW movie eventually. Seems like a nice chap too.

 

[paladinryan]

I'm still pulling for Fincher--I want to see Brad Pitt as a crazy Mandalorian bounty hunter.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm not as sold personally, getting one part right doesn't guarantee getting the other part right. I just looked at Kennedy's resume and there isn't really young director that she has produced for which is more worrying if it's true about the person being someone she has worked with before, unless Fincher or Spielberg are going to be surprise choices.

M. Night Shymalan .

Robert Zemeckis.

I think it's going to be a smaller name director and its not going to be a big superstar director.

Also Hunter Rider, everyone's got to start somewhere. Sam Raimi was a geek idol before Spider-Man but that was for low budget horror movies. Before Spider-Man his biggest movies were pretty much flops. Sony entrusted Raimi because of how a Spider-Man fan he is and the move gave the project a lot of credibility with hardcore fans. Raimi was also probably a less expensive choice.

Christopher Nolan before Batman wasn't Chris Nolan. His biggest movie was Insomnia. Batman Begins was a huge test for him.

So I think my basic point is, they aren't going to think big superstar director for this. It'll be more of an up and comer.

It won't be someone like Fincher either. He's got lots of projects on his plates lined up already and gearing up 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Doubt he'll have time to move right on Star Wars.

 

[Hunter Rider]

M. Night Shymalan .

Robert Zemeckis.

I think it's going to be a smaller name director and its not going to be a big superstar director.

Also Hunter Rider, everyone's got to start somewhere. Sam Raimi was a geek idol before Spider-Man but that was for low budget horror movies. Before Spider-Man his biggest movies were pretty much flops. Sony entrusted Raimi because of how a Spider-Man fan he is and the move gave the project a lot of credibility with hardcore fans. Raimi was also probably a less expensive choice.

Christopher Nolan before Batman wasn't Chris Nolan. His biggest movie was Insomnia. Batman Begins was a huge test for him.

So I think my basic point is, they aren't going to think big superstar director for this. It'll be more of an up and comer.

It won't be someone like Fincher either. He's got lots of projects on his plates lined up already and gearing up 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Doubt he'll have time to move right on Star Wars.

I'm aware of Nolan and Rami's history pre-CBM fame but both had pedigree in their respective fields that fit with the characters they were assigned to bring to the screen, the guy that was being discussed has one film and nothing about it remotely suggested he had the sensibilities for a project of this style or scale.

Personally I think Verbinski may end up being the man, he has experience guiding a big franchise, he's worked extensively with special effects and even has experience shooting big sword fights. He'd be a safe choice IMO.

 

[Project862006]

also take duncan jones off your lists he was scared to touch superman but he will touch star wars lol

 

[flickchick85]

I'd be cool with Verbinski. Yeah, the Pirates movies were all over the place, but when they were at their best, they were great. Plus, I have a great affection for Rango. I'd honestly prefer him over someone like Nolan or Fincher for this particular project, even though I'm a much bigger fan of those two directors in general. He just seems a better fit for the material, imo.

 

[redhawk23]

I'm aware of Nolan and Rami's history pre-CBM fame but both had pedigree in their respective fields that fit with the characters they were assigned to bring to the screen, the guy that was being discussed has one film and nothing about it remotely suggested he had the sensibilities for a project of this style or scale.

Personally I think Verbinski may end up being the man, he has experience guiding a big franchise, he's worked extensively with special effects and even has experience shooting big sword fights. He'd be a safe choice IMO.

As if American Graffiti is some giant epic.

 

[Hunter Rider]

As if American Graffiti is some giant epic.

Not comparable, Lucas had already been heavily involved in special effects with THX 1138 and A New Hope was not some huge scale epic, it was actually quite low budget and he was getting a complete unknown property off the ground. With Episode VII will come a $200M budget (at least), massive scale set pieces, huge scrutiny and expectation.

 

[Octoberist]

Not comparable, Lucas had already been heavily involved in special effects with THX 1138 and A New Hope was not some huge scale epic, it was actually quite low budget and he was getting a complete unknown property off the ground. With Episode VII will come a $200M budget (at least), massive scale set pieces, huge scrutiny and expectation.

It was epic in its own way. Star Wars was a small movie that felt big. He created a tangible universe that we wanted to visit with a colorful cast of characters. But you're right. The new one will be huge and will be heavily scrutinized especially in this post-prequel world.

 

[TheVileOne]

Well when Star Wars was in the 1970's it wasn't what big budget high concept fantasy adventure is today.

I'm not really sure how Nolan and Raimi proved they could do big scale comic book movies other than that Nolan had some really well constructed dramatic crime films with some cool twists. Raimi had done some dark and wacky low budget horror movies and some good character dramas. Very experienced but his bigger budget fare flopped.

I think you can argue that Raimi and Nolan themselves were unconventional choices for Spider-Man and Batman but that's why they worked. Because the studios went with people who come from smaller indy films and knew character and story besides just throwing money at everything.

 

[Octoberist]

I'm with Hunter but I can see what Vile is saying. I like 'Safety Not Guaranteed' but Trevorrow has only done one feature lengthed film. Just one. If he did a bunch of indie flicks under his belt then it would be a different story. And this can apply to the likes if early Jackson, Raimi and Nolan.

Now if there were two directors who are on the same track as those three, it would be Rian Johnson and (the late bloomer) Sam Mendes. Both have proven they can handle different genres of film* they also proved they can handle action. In the case of Johnson, he did sci-fi with Looper and with Medes, he took on a huge franchise like Bond with Skyfall.

These two dudes are very diverse and fearless, and I can see them taking on Star Wars.

*Johnson: Neo-Noir, Quirky Indie Comedy, Sci-Fi action.

*Mendes: Family Drama, Gangster thriller, Relationship/60's Period drama, Quirky Indie Comdey, Big Franchise Tentpole

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I'd be cool with Verbinski. Yeah, the Pirates movies were all over the place, but when they were at their best, they were great. Plus, I have a great affection for Rango. I'd honestly prefer him over someone like Nolan or Fincher for this particular project, even though I'm a much bigger fan of those two directors in general. He just seems a better fit for the material, imo.

I have yet to see the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Pirates movies. Some of the few films I'm ashamed of not watching.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm not completely sold on the Trevorrow idea either.

Ideally, I'd like it to be a guy who has some experience and really wants to do it.

Now here's the other thing about this movie. This movie will be able to put in small touches of that director but mostly it will have to stick with a familiar style Star Wars is used to and known for. For example everything sticks to a straight narrative style always with Star Wars. Everything happens chronologically. No flashbacks.

I think Brad Bird would've been an awesome choice, but he's already taken himself out of the equation.

 

[Octoberist]

I have yet to see the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Pirates movies. Some of the few films I'm ashamed of not watching.

It's best not to see them, haha..they're fun but messy. But you should only based on the ambition and spectacle of part 2 and 3. Skip part 4.

 

[Octoberist]

I'm not completely sold on the Trevorrow idea either.

Ideally, I'd like it to be a guy who has some experience and really wants to do it.

Now here's the other thing about this movie. This movie will be able to put in small touches of that director but mostly it will have to stick with a familiar style Star Wars is used to and known for. For example everything sticks to a straight narrative style always with Star Wars. Everything happens chronologically. No flashbacks.

I think Brad Bird would've been an awesome choice, but he's already taken himself out of the equation.

Yeah its all based on some level of experience. Its not only knowing how to do effects or sci-fi/fantasy, but knowing how to manage the budget and crew; how to pace the film during the shoot and in the editing suite, know how to deal with actors; etc.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It's best not to see them, haha..they're fun but messy. But you should only based on the ambition and spectacle of part 2 and 3. Skip part 4.

When On Stranger Tides came out I thought I would give the first one a shot. It was entertaining, but like you said, it was messy. The pirate movies just weren't appealing to me.

I've honestly only seen two of Verbinski's movies. (POTC and The Ring). Not really sure if he's someone I want tackling Star Wars yet.

 

[flickchick85]

I have yet to see the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Pirates movies. Some of the few films I'm ashamed of not watching.

Well, you've seen the best of the lot. But having seen them more as they've played ad nauseum on TV, I do think the 2nd & 3rd have quite a few scenes/sequences that make them worthwhile. They were certainly bigger and more ambitious than the 1st, but like Octoberist said - messy. The 4th? I honestly can't remember much about it, lol. I do remember it was the only one not directed by Verbinski, though.

 

[Octoberist]

And he just tweeted that he was saying he's out of the running. I feel like we're going to get a leak this week...

Got a good feeling about this..

 

[Octoberist]

When On Stranger Tides came out I thought I would give the first one a shot. It was entertaining, but like you said, it was messy. The pirate movies just weren't appealing to me.

I've honestly only seen two of Verbinski's movies. (POTC and The Ring). Not really sure if he's someone I want tackling Star Wars yet.

I think Gore proved that with Part 2 and 3, he's good at world building and sheer creativity. Some of the creature designs in the Pirates sequels are flat out amazing especially when modern movie designs tend to be either too boring or derivative. It was the story that needed a lot of help.