The ‘Star Wars: Episode 8’ Script Is So Good, J.J. Abrams Wishes He Were Directing It
J.J. Abrams revved up the engine on the ol’ Star Wars ship, launching the series on a new journey with The Force Awakens, but declining to return for the subsequent sequels. Instead, Rian Johnson (Looper) and Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) will be steering the franchise from here on out, directing Episodes 8 and 9, respectively. Johnson is in production on Episode 8 right now, and according to The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley, the script is “very good.” How good? Abrams regrets turning down the chance to direct it.
Frequent Abrams star Greg Grunberg, who plays pilot Snap Wexley in The Force Awakens, spoke with the Washington Post about Episode 8 — more specifically, how his old pal Abrams feels about Episode 8. Grunberg, who also appeared in LOST and Star Trek (but is perhaps best known for his role on Heroes), says that the director did something rather out of character when he read Johnson’s screenplay for the next Star Wars sequel:
“He read it and said something he never, ever says,” Grunberg, who plays pilot Snap Wexley in the new film, tells The Post’s Comic Riffs. “He said: ‘It’s so good, I wish I were making it.’
“He may have said something one time on ‘Lost,’ with Damon [Lindelof, the co-creator],” continues Grunberg, whose credits on Abrams series include “Lost” and “Felicity,” “but I never hear him express regret like that.”
Abrams was reportedly offered more than one Star Wars film, though he declined to return for the sequel and Lucasfilm decided to hire a different director for each subsequent installment, which should yield some interesting results. Fan reactions have been mostly positive-to-mixed on The Force Awakens; Abrams did a solid job of introducing new characters and a new adventure, while honoring the classic characters and George Lucas’ original trilogy.
Whatever your feelings on The Force Awakens, I think we can all agree that we’re excited for Rian Johnson’s Episode 8, which will undoubtedly deliver something very special and maybe just a little strange. In addition to Looper, Johnson has also written and directed Brick and The Brothers Bloom, and is one of our best working screenwriters / directors. That writing part should come in handy, particularly for those who complained about the script for The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: Episode 8 hits theaters on May 26, 2017.