When it comes to The Last Jedi, there are controversies aplenty. Aside from the film’s treatment of Luke Skywalker, no subject was more controversial than that of Rey’s parents. With Rey being so powerful in the Force, the expectation was that she came from a lineage also strong with the Force. JJ Abrams set the stage for that with Rey’s vision in The Force Awakens. Conversely, Rian Johnson then subverted that expectation by having Kylo Ren claim Rey’s parents were “nobody”. Now, the divisive Star Wars director says he’s okay with ret-conning Rey’s parentage in Star Wars: Episode IX.
(Image: Disney/Lucasfilm)
Rian Johnson created discord among the Star Wars fandom before The Last Jedi even began production. He declared that he would not be utilizing the story arc JJ Abrams already created. Instead he’d create his own film, with his own vision. Part of that was establishing Rey as a nobody herself, and demonstrating that anyone can be strong in the Force. But that’s not what a majority of fans seem to have wanted. In recent statements, Johnson appears to be backtracking on his former position.
Rian Johnson Gives Blessing to Retcon Rey’s Parentage
Speaking to MTV News recently, Rian Johnson had this to say when asked his opinion on Abrams retconning Rey’s lineage:
I want to let go of all my expectations… sit back… be entertained… to be surprised… thrilled. I want [J.J. Abrams] to do stuff I wasn’t expecting him to do and just go along for the ride. For me, that’s why I go to the movies, you know?”
There’s a lot loaded in that statement. First and foremost, Rian Johnson is applying his own logic to how Abrams may treat Episode IX. While he (Johnson) may want Episode IX to deliver unexpected things, that’s not the general consensus. This statement rings more true of a justification for his own actions than an endorsement for Abrams to do the same.
Rey’s Parentage: Neither Blessing Nor Retcon Needed
In any event, it’s not like Johnson’s blessing is needed. Abrams is a capable and talented writer, director and producer. Rumors of a Terminator C-3PO aside, I have full confidence that Episode IX will be everything fans want it to be. Plus, Abrams’ take on Rey’s parentage wouldn’t even be retcon. Kylo Ren was trying manipulate Rey into joining him. What better way than to lie and convince her she had no other direction in which to turn? In that instance Rey’s parentage can remain exactly as Abrams first envisioned it without any retcon whatsoever.
(Image: Disney/Lucasfilm)
Star Wars Celebration is next weekend. We’re sure to learn more about Episode IX at the event. In the meantime, perhaps Rian Johnson should just focus on Knives Out and leave Episode IX to Abrams.
Source: MTV News
With the April Fools from before and this article, I’m now pretty much convinced that you people are extremely biased against Rian Johnson. Worse still, that you keep fanning the flames and exploit the toxic fans’ hatred to rack up ad revenue. A journalist is supposed to relay information in an objective and unbiased way without taking any sides, and yet you went and wrote “Unnecessary” in your title (which is an opinion) and implied in a thinly-veiled way in your sentence about JJ being a “capable and talented writer” that Rian isn’t. Unprofessional, biased and, dare I say, childish.
You didn’t like the way Rian wrote the movie because it didn’t fit your egotistical definition of Star Wars and because you didn’t get your fanfiction. The movie came out sixteen months ago. GROW UP AND GET OVER IT.
Quentin: Thanks for your comments. If you regularly follow our Star Wars coverage, you would know that, in addition to reporting news, a great deal of our content is editorial in nature. That’s the case with this piece. You’re absolutely correct that the article is biased – as an editorial opinion piece about Rian Johnson and his comments, it was intended to be. If you have more opinions on this subject, or on Star Wars in general, we’d love to hear them and publish them.