Rian Johnson's New STAR WARS Trilogy Has Downgraded To A Question Of "If" Not "When"

Rian Johnson's New STAR WARS Trilogy Has Downgraded To A Question Of "If" Not "When"

Rian Johnson's proposed Star Wars trilogy is still on indefinite hold as The Last Jedi director focuses on more installments of the Knives Out franchise for Netflix.

By MarkJulian - May 24, 2025 10:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: SFFGazette.com

On November 9, 2017, Lucasfilm announced that The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson would helm an entirely new Star Wars trilogy—an ambitious, standalone saga set apart from the Skywalker narrative. The project was initially met with enthusiasm, promising to chart bold, uncharted territory in a galaxy far, far away.

But as the years have passed, and Johnson’s updates have grown increasingly vague, hopes for the trilogy’s future have dimmed. 

Case in point, Johnson was recently interviewed by The Independent who asked about the status of the ambitious project.

Johnson replied, "I’m focused on making other stuff. But that wouldn’t rule out it happening down the line. If I get back in the Star Wars universe someday, I’d be the happiest person.”

In short, it’s no longer a matter of when, but if.

The uncertainty surrounding the trilogy is perhaps unsurprising, given the polarizing legacy of The Last Jedi. While critics largely praised the film for its bold storytelling and subversion of expectations, the audience response was deeply divided. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score reflects that stark contrast, capturing the rift between fans who found Johnson’s vision refreshing and those who felt it betrayed the series’ core.

Controversial choices, like reimagining Luke Skywalker as a reclusive cynic, framing Rey’s heritage as irrelevant, and the much-debated Canto Bight sequence, ignited passionate debate across the fanbase. To some, these decisions breathed new life into the franchise; to others, they undermined its mythos.

Despite the initial excitement, Lucasfilm has remained tight-lipped about Johnson’s trilogy since The Last Jedi's release. Details about characters, timelines, or story arcs were never publicly shared. What little is known came from early press releases and scattered comments from Johnson and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who both described the trilogy as a fresh narrative, separate from existing lore, set in a previously unexplored corner of the Star Wars galaxy.

For now, Johnson remains focused on expanding his Knives Out mystery series for Netflix. And while the door to Star Wars hasn’t been closed entirely, the path back seems increasingly unclear.

Kathleen Kennedy admitted back in 2022 that Johnson was moving on from the Star Wars universe, stating, "Rian has been unbelievably busy with Knives Out and the deal that he made at Netflix for multiple movies."

In regards to his experience making The Last Jedi, Johnson previously stated, "I feel like, for better or for worse, I had my chance at the plate. I swung. I was very lucky to get to do [that] [and thanks to] the people at Disney and Lucasfilm and Kathleen Kennedy [for] protect[ing] the creative process so that we could really go in and I could really do what I wanted," Johnson continued. "That's one thing I don't feel any regrets about or anything like that."

Despite Rian Johnson expressing no regrets about his time in the Star Wars galaxy, a reunion seems increasingly improbable.

The significant backlash from segments of the fanbase following The Last Jedi, coupled with his thriving creative partnership with Netflix on projects like the Knives Out series, suggests Johnson is content focusing his energy elsewhere. 

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MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 5/24/2025, 10:23 AM
He helped ruin it so no thanks.
UnderBelly
UnderBelly - 5/24/2025, 11:31 AM
@MarvelousMarty - He definitley took Luke down an unexpected path, but I'd still say his star wars movie was the best in that trilogy. Fight me.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 5/24/2025, 11:56 AM
@UnderBelly - It had identical problems to TFA in that it was contributing nothing new, had no ideas, but steered the ship in the direction it wanted the next person to go.
UnderBelly
UnderBelly - 5/24/2025, 12:13 PM
@IronSpider101 - I'd argue that Luke and Leia's journey's were quite new and not as expected in these kind of movies.

Luke being a hermit after the strong arc he had in the OG 3 and Leia reconciling with the fact her son killed his father and loosing him to the darkside (emotionally) in the process...quite differently to Padme's reaction in loosing Anakin..triggering her strong force abilities. That scene was beautiful...aswell as the holdo maneuver.

From all the star wars movies, I can't think of better cinematography from any other... maybe some parts in Rogue One.

I do agree it has its problems, but it's generally hated only by hardcore star wars purist who don't like change. It was still critically a huge success and a hit with general audiences.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 5/24/2025, 12:54 PM
@UnderBelly - Luke was just occupying the Yoda/Obi-Wan role. He did the same thing everyone does in Star Wars, which Han did in the last movie himself. He fails to stop ultimate evil, then runs to a remote island where he can sit and pout about it until someone comes along to ask for help. Leia doesn't really have any arc to speak of. She spends most of the movie in a coma and the few moments she's awake she doesn't do anything outside of bafflingly keep Poe Dameron around and prep him for a leadership role when he's easily the last person who should have one.

Cinematography was lovely, but that has nothing to do with story or character, which is what I levied against it. I think all of the Star Wars movies look beautiful, but absolutely, this one was uniquely well shot.

But ultimately the movie is playing like it's taking some bold swings. Kylo kills The "Not-Emperor" and takes over the "Not-Empire" so he can finally be his own man and stop being "Not-Vader" trying to destroy the "Not-Rebels" and "Not-Luke"?. What's the first thing he does? How does he show growth and huge change from what he's been and what Star Wars has been? He devotes all his time and effort into trying to destroy the "Not-Rebels" and "Not-Luke" before killing "Not-Obi Wan" on "Not-Hoth".

Like Abrams, he just expects the next guy will figure out how to add something new and commits to simply pointing it in the direction he thinks it should go.

I don't hate it, or really any of the sequels. But I consider them essentially unnecessary extensions of what was an open and closed 6-movie arc. The same as any other Star Wars show or spin-off. Any new trilogy should've had a story that justified its existence, felt like it was worth continuing a story that had already ended, and they just didn't do it. They made more for the sake of making more.
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 5/24/2025, 1:09 PM
@UnderBelly - Yeah it was unexpected. Luke would never abandon Leia nor his friends. For me it was absolutely horrific and I still can't believe how Disney has let this all happen. I remember sitting in a cinema as the original title crawl appear on the screen, and that music and then the film itself. Had a life long impact on me and Disney sh*t all over it by allowing idiots to make the movies.
UnderBelly
UnderBelly - 5/24/2025, 1:37 PM
@IronSpider101
@MarvelousMarty -

I generally think the sequel trilogy as a whole repeats many of the same beats of the original and elements of the prequels. TLJ is by no means perfect, but to me, compared to the other JJ ones, it was the best of the 3.

I do wish they followed Lucas' original outline as basically this trilogy doesn't follow what the creator wrote for these characters. As a fan it was nice to see, but it wasn't a true sequel, and I agree, a money grab.

To me though, what I also liked about Rian's entry was that he was trying to go beyond the core and legacy characters by trying to bring those new force sensitive kids into it. I do think he would have likely expanded on that stuff leaving the skywalker stuff alone. That's What star wars needs imo. New core characters unlinked to eps 1 to 6. I think that's maybe why the Mandolorian has been a success...but even that show at times depended on legacy cast appearing a couple times.
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 3:58 PM
@UnderBelly - Indeed. I myself, being one of those "hardcore fans" do not hate it. I see where people are coming from who do, but it was a new experience for the series. I loved how the Force was portrayed as well. As for Luke, he not only redeemed himself but really did go out like a Jedi- saving the day without even hurting anyone let alone killing. Folks were just expecting something more action packed for him after so long waiting for him. But honestly, the older I get the more I look back on it fondly. The dynamic between Kylo and Rey was also a highlight.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 4:30 PM
@IronSpider101 - @underbelly he got you on this one. None of the above is innacurate in the slightest.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 4:31 PM
@fanboy03191 - no folks were expecting Luke to behave like Luke.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 5/24/2025, 6:15 PM
@UnderBelly - 👊💥🤛👋💥👊👊🦶💥
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 6:27 PM
@McMurdo - People change. I honestly bought it.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 6:30 PM
@fanboy03191 - they don't change like that bud. He was gonna assassinate his nephew whilst he slept. Gimme a break.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 5/24/2025, 10:27 AM
he phucked it into the dirt.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 5/24/2025, 10:27 AM
You either hate The Last Jedi, or you're not a real Star Wars fan
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 4:32 PM
@bobevanz - based
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/24/2025, 10:34 AM
A Rian Johnson Star Wars article…

User Comment Image

Anyway as someone who likes TLJ quite a bit and it remains one of my favorite SW films , I would be down to have him back in that universe for atleast a film (a trilogy felt presumptuous but if it evolves to that then great).

Having him do his own story with original characters rather then pre-existing ones that people already have a connection to might work out better honestly…

However given the divisive nature of that film and the toxicity of the fanbase , I also would rather he stay away from it for his own sake and just focus on his own projects like the Knives Out series & Poker Face amongst other things.
Antitrollpatrol
Antitrollpatrol - 5/24/2025, 10:40 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I honestly think that if Kennedy and crew didn't cave and fire trevorrow to bring in jar jar Abrams back it would have helped tlj to age better. Unfortunately we got one of the most disappointing films in any franchise ever. Seriously felt like little kids on a playground wrote star wars 9.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/24/2025, 10:44 AM
@Antitrollpatrol - I like JJ tbh but yeah , TROS was mediocre at best…

It’s just unfortunate that it felt so reactionary in many ways.

Idk how execution wise it would have been but Trevorrow’s Duel of The Fates script was decent and seemed like a better conclusion to the trilogy atleast then TROS was.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 5/24/2025, 10:41 AM
That's still a thing fans are talking about, seriously ?
jst5
jst5 - 5/24/2025, 11:18 AM
@TheJok3r - No...
dragon316
dragon316 - 5/24/2025, 11:56 AM
@TheJok3r - depends on what fan you talk to
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 3:59 PM
@dragon316 - Yeah. If anything Rise of Skywalker is the movie that did the most damage.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 4:32 PM
@fanboy03191 - hilarious take. Terrible film but no.
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 6:27 PM
@McMurdo - I disagree.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/24/2025, 6:31 PM
@fanboy03191 - we know.
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 8:04 PM
@McMurdo - don’t assume you speak for everyone.
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 5/25/2025, 1:24 AM
@TheJok3r - People have been talking about Star Wars non stop since 1977, you're awfully late to the party !
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/24/2025, 10:51 AM
While I feel bad for George Lucas, his beloved franchise is going down the toilet along with Marvel and Disney.

It's quite amazing just how a popular property or franchise can go from being on top to rapidly going down the shit hole.

And you know what? I have no sympathy for them. They brought this upon themselves when they chose quantity over quality.

Nolanite out
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 5/24/2025, 10:55 AM
@Nolanite - KK destroyed Lucasfilm on purpose. She's a special kind of awful.
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 5/24/2025, 1:10 PM
@Nolanite - I'll never get over how bad Disney did Star wars.
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 5/24/2025, 4:00 PM
@Nolanite - Eh, we'll see. Honestly, and I'm saying this as a long time fan there's a lot more I like than dislike with the Disney era. Clone Wars, Rogue One, Andor, Solo(yes, I really enjoyed it), the Jedi game series, and the comics from Marvel(ironically). There is a lot to enjoy. With that said if people make up three minds to hate something, then that's what's going to happen.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/24/2025, 10:51 AM
Nothing beats that scene with the halved star destroyer pin drop moment. I loved the last Jedi.

Disney ruined SW too much that subversion of expectations by Rian is very much welcome for me.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/24/2025, 10:53 AM
"Nothing beats", I mean in SW.

Anything else cant hold a candle against Ne Zha 2
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 5/24/2025, 10:53 AM
seriously, why is this even a discussion? The very last thing a dying franchise needs is to welcome back the person who afflicted it with a deadly disease. The Last Jedi is the worst movie ever made simply due to the sheer hate that went into making it.
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