Are ‘Game of Thrones’ Show-Runners Benioff and Weiss Right for ‘STAR WARS’?

Dave Benioff and D.B. Weiss may not be household names, but millions worldwide are familiar with their product. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It’s the most popular show in the history of HBO, and also one of the most popular television programs in the history of television. Oh, and it’s won more Emmy awards than any other dramatic show ever. I’m of course referring to Game of Thrones. With the show ending after its eighth season this year, Benioff and Weiss are moving on to their next project. That most likely is the next Star Wars trilogy, set to begin production reportedly this fall. And yet some feel that they should have nothing to do with Star Wars.

Game of Thrones has its faults, certainly. Yes, at times it’s been overly graphic, violent, and even stomach churning. I won’t defend that. Sometimes it was too much for even me. But to say that Benioff and Weiss, who clearly know what they’re doing when it comes to storytelling telling and production, shouldn’t touch Star Wars? That’s some seriously narrow-minded thinking.

Are Benioff and Weiss Right for Star Wars?

A scathing article, decrying Benioff and Weiss, appeared on the website The Mary Sue earlier today. At first I agreed with some of the points made… and then I read the article again. It almost reads as if the person voicing the opinions has never actually watched Game of Thrones, or is at least unable to understand the nuances of the show. In fact, the attacks contained in the article seem to be born substantially of the fact that the Benioff and Weiss narrative simply didn’t fit the writer’s expectations.  

Sure this has shades of complaints about Rian Johnson and how he treated Star Wars. I will fully admit that I don’t like Rian Johnson, but not because he subverted my expectations. I don’t like him because I think The Last Jedi was poorly written and done so in a tone out of keeping with forty years of Star Wars storytelling. Also, the guy has proven time and again with snarky tweets and social media comments that he’s smug, arrogant, and incapable of accepting criticism. This article, conversely, basically condemns Benioff and Weiss for how they chose to tell their own story.

Imparting a False Equivalency Between GoT and Star Wars

The article states “There’s also the idea that Star Wars is trying to be more inclusive, and Benioff and Weiss may think they’re inclusive but are really just hell-bent on centering narratives on white men and white characters while demonizing women and brutalizing characters of color.” Those are pretty strong accusations, especially considering the source material with which they were working for Game of Thrones. And while there may be some similarities, the two franchises are different genres. To basically claim that they will attempt to replicated the elements of Game of Thrones with Star Wars, however….

You don’t like Benioff and Weiss. We get it. You’re upset that Jaime Lannister exhibited human fallibility and returned to the one woman he loved despite your hopes of his redemption. Fine, fair enough. But spout off nonsense like “Benioff and Weiss would’ve probably had Leia create her own Death Star to be subversive”? Come on.

I for one am truly looking forward to see what Benioff and Weiss can do with Star Wars, especially if they take on The Old Republic. If you don’t want to see it, that’s your prerogitive.

How do you guys feel about Benioff and Weiss producing Star Wars? Let us know in the comments.

Source: The Mary Sue