Fan reaction is something that casts and crews of film have to see very easily these days thanks to social media and the Internet in general, so with how divisive ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ has been you need to wonder how those involved feel about it. Most of the actors haven’t shared any details quite yet but director Rian Johnson wasn’t just involved in the creation of the latest installment but was a fan of the franchise so weighed in on this.
In a recent interview he explains his thoughts on fans who didn’t like what was released and while he understands why not everyone would agree with his choices gives a thought out reason why it’s okay that they disagree:
“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. 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. You’re going to find very few fans out there whose lists line up. And I also know the same way the original movies were personal for Lucas. Lucas never made a “Star Wars” movie by sitting down and thinking, “What do the fans want to see?” And 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— you, you ruined ‘Star Wars,’” and I would make a bad movie. And ultimately, that’s the one thing nobody wants. And let me just add that 80-90% of the reaction I’ve gotten from Twitter has been really lovely. There’s been a lot of joy and love from fans. When I talk about the negative stuff, that’s not the full picture of the fans at all.”
If you agree with the decisions that Johnson made this is probably an easier statement to get behind. Fans passionate about the franchise who didn’t like the creative choices, though, are probably still going to be just as annoyed as they previously were. Even knowing that not everyone would agree with his work didn’t stop him from defending adding humor into the movie.
Are you for or against how ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ played out on screen? Either way, do you understand Johnson’s point of view in how he made it and is dealing with our fandom? Share your thoughts below!
Source: Business Insider
