(Credits: Far Out / Max Surprenant)
Sun 21 December 2025 3:00, UK
Rian Johnson looks like he’s having the time of his life right now.
Ever since the world fell in love with Benoit Blanc in the first Knives Out movie, the director has been able to devote his time and attention almost exclusively to making campy whodunnits. He’s almost single-handedly revitalised his beloved ‘murder-mystery’ genre and has spent his days hanging out with Daniel Craig and getting paid big bucks to do so. But things weren’t always so dreamy.
Prior to Knives Out, Johnson was probably most famous for directing the eighth overall instalment in the Star Wars franchise, 2017’s The Last Jedi. Following the monumental commercial success of The Force Awakens, it was his job to keep the ship on course. Only he didn’t do that. He rocked the boat and rocked it hard. Johnson’s bold departure from many of the established Star Wars norms caused an almighty debate among the infamously toxic fandom.
Some people – myself included – adored the direction he took the story in, while others were physically repulsed by the idea of there being multiple women in a single film. How dare they?!
Hating on Star Wars was nothing new by 2017. In fact, Johnson himself had been guilty of the same offence. Speaking to Rolling Stone, the filmmaker revealed that he had been a part of “Prequel Hate Central” when he was in college. “Everyone was ruthless at the time,” he said of this notably dark period in the franchise’s history.
The Phantom Menace was released in 1999, when Johnson would have been in his mid-20s. Growing up as a fan of the original trilogy, he, like many others, must have been wetting themselves at the thought of new adventures in the galaxy far, far away. However, like many others, he was extremely disappointed at the way in which they turned out. George Lucas’ perceived decision to aim the prequels squarely at a younger audience – while also including plotlines about trade embargos and intergalactic politics – rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way.
Things only got worse with the releases of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Sand, the high ground, Darth Plagueis the Wise, Hayden Christensen in general. You know what I’m talking about.
“Of course, now the prequels are embraced,” Johnson continued, referring to the recent reevaluation of the once-derided trilogy. “I’m not saying that as a facile, ‘Oh, things will flip around in 20 years, you’ll see!’ It’s more that this push and pull, and this hatred to stuff that seems new, this is all part of being a Star Wars fan. Culture-war garbage aside, I think that essential part of it is a healthy part.”
Johnson framing his own controversial work through the lens of the prequels is fascinating. He’s already admitted to being even prouder of The Last Jedi with the benefit of hindsight, so perhaps the rest of the world will follow suit over the next few years. As someone who loves The Last Jedi and still thinks that most of the prequels are utter bollocks, I personally can’t wait for this to happen.
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