The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson handles a question about Star Wars fans hating his film with grace
You can’t please everyone, a lesson that no one knows better right now than Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.
Although the overwhelming consensus for the new film has been extremely positive, it was never going to be everyone’s cup of tea – and some hardcore fans have been pretty vocal in expressing their disappointment in the film.
In fact, one person felt so passionately about the film, that they created a petition on Change.org to have Disney strike the film from the official Star Wars canon adding: ‘Episode VIII was a travesty.’
But Rian handled the criticism with grace and finesse when he was quizzed on it by Business Insider.
‘Having been a Star Wars fan my whole life, and having spent most of my life on the other side of the curb and in that fandom, it softens the blow a little bit,’ he said when asked how he feels that people feel his film in nothing like the original story.
‘I’m aware through my own experience that, first of all, the fans are so passionate, they care so deeply — sometimes they care very violently at me on Twitter. But it’s because they care about these things, and it hurts when you’re expecting something specific and you don’t get it from something that you love.
‘It always hurts, so I don’t take it personally if a fan reacts negatively and lashes out on me on Twitter. That’s fine. It’s my job to be there for that. Like you said, every fan has a list of stuff they want a Star Wars movie to be and they don’t want a Star Wars movie to be.
‘I knew if I wrote wondering what the fans would want, as tempting as that is, it wouldn’t work, because people would still be shouting at me, “F**k you, you ruined Star Wars,” and I would make a bad movie. And ultimately, that’s the one thing nobody wants.’
But he notes that the response from fans on Twitter has actually been ‘really lovely’, with the film also garnering positive reviews from critics, and a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite a negative few, The Last Jedi is taking over the world right now, raking in $450m (£337m) on its opening weekend, is jam-packed with celeb cameos (including Ellie Goulding, Edgar Wright, and Princes Harry and William) and is even loved by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Even rappers Giggs and Example got dressed up to go see the movie – not to mention actual Last Jedi star Kellie Marie Tran dressing up like a Porg.
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