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[SolidChamp]

Disclaimer: This is NOT a defense of Colin Trevorrow. I, like most of you, wish that they could have found a more proven and deserving director to helm Episode IX. This thread is to promote a more objective and balanced discussion on what, if anything, Trevorrow can bring to the table for Star Wars.

So at this particular time, Trevorrow hasn't exactly proven himself aside from directing a franchise movie that grossed a billion dollars. Of course it feels like they handed him the keys to the kingdom because they felt like he can turn franchise films into a goldmine. Odd, but okay.

But Trevorrow hasn't exactly made a "Phantom Menace" kind of film. Safety Not Guaranteed was actually a charming and fun little indie with a sci-fi twist.

Jurassic World was average and forgettable; though some of those deleted scenes were so cringe-worthy it's a wonder the man was allowed to continue filming at all.

I just saw that he directed a critical and commercial flop that was just released, The Book of Henry. I know nothing about it, but it seems like a small film he wanted to make in between the huge blockbusters.

So this dude's batting average isn't exactly abysmal. He's just OK. So are we being too harsh on him at this point? Of course it would have been a dream scenario to have Rian Johnson write and direct both episodes, but I hear he's penning the screenplay for Episode IX? If that's the case, and Trevorrow isn't putting his own finishing touches on Johnson's written work, then maybe it's a bit unfair to be so critical of Trevorrow so early in the game?

Rian Johnson himself blocked me on twitter (for being a dick) for making an off-handed joke about how his writing Episode IX is cause for relief, so long as Treovorrow isn't allowed anywhere here the screenplay.

So, let's discuss...who is Colin Trevorrow and why is he so deserving of our ire?

 

[Fuchsdh]

So this dude's batting average isn't exactly abysmal. He's just OK. So are we being too harsh on him at this point? Of course it would have been a dream scenario to have Rian Johnson write and direct both episodes, but I hear he's penning the screenplay for Episode IX? If that's the case, and Trevorrow isn't putting his own finishing touches on Johnson's written work, then maybe it's a bit unfair to be so critical of Trevorrow so early in the game?

We're talking about a bunch of nerds who overreact to everything, so the answer is absolutely yes.

 

[Zeyphersan]

Doubting he’s going to make a good Star Wars movie is not the same thing as ire

 

[B33]

I hope HBO licenses The Book of Henry.

 

[GrizzNKev]

I'll judge the movie when it exists

 

[Manu]

But Trevorrow hasn't exactly made a "Phantom Menace" kind of film. Safety Not Guaranteed was actually a charming and fun little indie with a sci-fi twist.

Ahem.

 

[SolidChamp]

Doubting he’s going to make a good Star Wars movie is not the same thing as ire

Semantics. But okay, I see what you're saying.

 

[KernelPanic]

I'm not worried because if Disney even so much as smells as a cringeworthy SW film in the making they will sack him and get someone else or bring Johnson, Abrams in.

 

[robotrock]

I saw Book of Henry and it is even worse than you think it is

 

[Geno Breaker]

It makes sense. Jurassic World was nothing more than a popcorn flick and I don't trust him to do Star Wars right at all.

 

[Fancy Clown]

The dude hasn't made a good movie in my eyes, including safety not guaranteed, so he hasn't really earned anything other than doubt at this point.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

It's absolutely fair.

I don't know that it's fair to write the whole thing off and condemn the final product before it's consumed.

But it's eminently fair to doubt his abilities.

 

[SolidChamp]

Ahem.

 

[Betty]

I'm hoping he get's replaced personally.

 

[RyanW]

Unpopular Opinion: I kind of enjoyed Jurassic World

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Book of henry was an incredibly entertaining mess!

 

[ItIsOkBro]

i dont even know how this guy got the keys to jurassic world

and that made a bili despite him

 

[the anime man]

I hate Jurassic World and would prefer it if he wasn't writing and directing 9.

But you never know. He could end up making an amazing Star Wars movie. I doubt it though.

 

[TheXbox]

The best defense people can muster is that LFL will throw enough money at the film so it won't be terrible.

At this point, between Trank, Lord & Miller, and now Trevorrow, I think it's fair to cast doubt on Kennedy's recruitment efforts. Edwards's project nearly collapsed, but at least he was willing to play ball and let Gilroy pick up the pieces. These other jokers were never the best bets.

 

[WillyFive]

I think he will be fine. He was able to make Jurassic World work really well for a company that isn't anywhere near as controlling of it's properties as Disney.

 

[Busty]

By all accounts his films are horrible. He's done two studio features. One was a terrible film based on a beloved IP and the other was a terrible based off an original terrible idea so I'd say we have enough 'game film' on him at this point.

 

[Afrocious]

How much of JW's success can be attached to Trevorrow, though?

Shot in the dark here, but I feel that the movie would've generated money regardless of who directed it.

 

[SolidChamp]

Is it confirmed that Johnson is writing IX?

 

[TheXbox]

Is it confirmed that Johnson is writing IX?

He is not.

 

[MMarston]

But Trevorrow hasn't exactly made a "Phantom Menace" kind of film. Safety Not Guaranteed was actually a charming and fun little indie with a sci-fi twist.

And that was about it.

It never surpassed anything above that and to be honest, even felt like a straight unintentional parody of typical independent films.


I have no idea what people saw in that movie, especially Spielberg.

Is it confirmed that Johnson is writing IX?

He did a story outline treatment, but that's about it and Trevorrow isn't necessarily committed to following it whatsoever.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I hate Jurassic World and would prefer it if he wasn't writing and directing 9.

But you never know. He could end up making an amazing Star Wars movie. I doubt it though.

This. I thought JW was total shit. So, I don't have much hope for Episode 9. That's really all there is to say on the matter 'til I actually see at least something of Episode 9.

 

[michaelius]

So this dude's batting average isn't exactly abysmal. He's just OK. So are we being too harsh on him at this point? Of course it would have been a dream scenario to have Rian Johnson write and direct both episodes, but I hear he's penning the screenplay for Episode IX? If that's the case, and Trevorrow isn't putting his own finishing touches on Johnson's written work, then maybe it's a bit unfair to be so critical of Trevorrow so early in the game?

Just average is not enough for franchise with 40+ years of history and millions of fans.

 

[Puck Beaverton]

His best film is, at best, decent. He's made one shitty blockbuster and a film that is being skewered and laughed at.

There is no hope.

 

[deadscreensky]

Of course it's fair to doubt him. He's made two lousy films in a row, the most recent of which is quickly earning some kind of legendary status. (You're seriously underselling just how much the Book of Henry has been derided.) His Star Wars movie might end up being great -- movies are bad for all sorts of reasons -- but at this early point there's very little reason to have positive expectations of any sort. If people were calling for a boycott that might be unfair, but I don't think that's really the case here.

But I feel the one thing you can be confident about is that Episode 9 will have plenty of fans and be very successful regardless. (Look at all of the people who loved a mess like Rogue One.) In that sense Trevorrow is a safe pick, because as long as he can successfully shoot the damn thing it probably won't hurt Disney's profits.

(I won't lie, I giggled about the Twitter block.)

 

[ubique]

Safety Not Guaranteed is trash

 

[DeviantBoi]

I think he's a safe choice.

He has decent actors, a script given to him, and producers that will be on top of him every step of the way.

I think it'd be hard for him to completely fuck up the movie.

 

[jaekeem]

I think he's a safe choice.

He has decent actors, a script given to him, and producers that will be on top of him every step of the way.

I think it'd be hard for him to completely fuck up the movie.

yea after what happened to lord & miller over the han solo flick I doubt treverrow will be given enough leash to fuck up

 

[SpaceWolf]

Who's writing the script for Episode 9? Same guys as in the past?

 

[Jarmel]

Book of Henry seems worse than Phantom Menace.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

I think he's a safe choice.

He has decent actors, a script given to him, and producers that will be on top of him every step of the way.

I think it'd be hard for him to completely fuck up the movie.

Which is partly why studios started to hire these independent directors to make these big budget tentpole films. If needed, they can put the thumb on them and get what they want, they get indie and online film critic cred, and it's usually an all around win for everyone involved (except when it backfires spectacularly, like that newest Fantastic Four film).

 

[hobozero]

The guy who directed The Empire Strikes Back also directed:

 

[jonezer4]

I think so. Johnson was a fantastic choice and has proven himself as a great writer and director. Trevorrow... I'm just not feeling it. Jurassic World was serviceable at best -- I honestly don't think it's significantly better than JP3, and would rank it below The Lost World. Not exactly high praise.

I liked Safety Not Guaranteed, but don't see how that translates into handling the final part of a Star Wars trilogy. I take solace in the fact that Johnson is working on the film that will inevitably be compared to The Empire Strikes back -- the best Star Wars film, and arguably one of the best films ever, while Trevorrow's work will be compared to the lackluster Return of the Jedi, a serviceable but somewhat unremarkable film. If you compare the new trilogy to the original in this fashion, Trevorrow will have a lot less to live up to, and hopefully, he can exceed lowered expectations.

 

[sphagnum]

I dont trust him but I do trust Kennedy to jump in if things go wrong.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

Who's writing the script for Episode 9? Same guys as in the past?

What do you mean by the same guys? Abrams and Kasdan wrote TFA (though Arndt got a writing credit too), Johnson wrote The Last Jedi and Treverrow and Connolly are writing IX. It's been different each time.

 

[Foggy]

He made some bad movies. Of course.

 

[SpaceWolf]

What do you mean by the same guys? Abrams and Kasdan wrote TFA (though Arndt got a writing credit too), Johnson wrote The Last Jedi and Treverrow and Connolly are writing IX. It's been different each time.

Okay, I wasn't aware of that. Thank you for the response.

 

[shiftplusone]

Just average is not enough for franchise with 40+ years of history and millions of fans.

Average was an unreachable feat for the franchise for 1,2 and 3, star wars will survive.

It happens all the time. WB would kill for average for the DCEU outside wonder woman

The Hobbit movies were shit

 

[Violet_0]

I'm just in it for the glorious uncomfortably violent and stretched out death scene

 

[kevin1025]

I'm just in it for the glorious uncomfortably violent and stretched out death scene

Safety Not Guaranteed was the worst offender of this.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

I hated Jurassic World for numerous reasons that I won't get into again, so I was already extremely doubtful of him to begin with. But after Book of Henry I'm expecting the absolute worst, and now that I know about his early short film Home Base, his sexism is more obvious to me than ever, which means him directing the final chapter of Rey's story is worrisome as fuck.

All he has going for him is the fact that he has the first two acts of the trilogy to build off of.

 

[WonkyPanda]

The Russo brothers were handed the keys to Winter Soldier after ‘you, me and dupree.’ With how much creative control we can all assume Disney has, I think it’s safe to be that it’s in good hands.

 

[kevin1025]

I hated Jurassic World for numerous reasons that I won't get into again, so I was already extremely doubtful of him to begin with. But after Book of Henry I'm expecting the absolute worst, and now that I know about his early short film Home Base, his sexism is more obvious to me than ever, which means him directing the final chapter of Rey's story is worrisome as fuck.

All he has going for him is the fact that he has the first two acts of the trilogy to build off of.

Lucasfilm has shown they're not afraid to massage their films with extra voices, and even wrestle it away from people.

I think the worst case scenario is the film gets reshoots, with maybe Johnson coming back to help? But I don't think Trevorrow is going to be as big a mess as some think he'll be.

 

[Roders5]

Obviously I don't know what will happen, but even if he does fluke a good movie some people will never admit it because they've already put their line in the sand. Same thing if TLJ turns out bad, lots of people won't admit it because they've been building Johnson up (hopefully it's great though). This is why I try not to stress too much about it before hand, I think it can affect how you view the movie.

 

[Boke1879]

The best defense people can muster is that LFL will throw enough money at the film so it won't be terrible.

At this point, between Trank, Lord & Miller, and now Trevorrow, I think it's fair to cast doubt on Kennedy's recruitment efforts. Edwards's project nearly collapsed, but at least he was willing to play ball and let Gilroy pick up the pieces. These other jokers were never the best bets.

You aint casting doubts on Kennedy because the movies she's putting out are hits and making money.

 

[Number_6]

The guy who directed The Empire Strikes Back also directed:

But at least it wasn't: