The Reason Rian Johnson Can't Direct An Episode For 'The Mandalorian' Season 3
The Mandalorian has been a great success among both Star Wars and TV fans. The fast paced action, well written characters, feel-good wholesome moments, and a proper amount of fan service have endeared the show to millions. The adorable little green baby helps, as well. A large part of the success of the show comes from the talented cast and crew that Disney and Lucasfilm have brought onboard. Headed up by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, they have added the likes of Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, and Carl Weathers in front of the camera and Deborah Chow, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Taika Waititi behind the scenes. While season 3 of the hit show may seem entirely too far away for the liking of many fans (including this writer), there is no end to the speculation, fan casting, and scouring the internet for leaks.
One such tidbit that has been circulating is Rian Johnson's desire to direct an episode of The Mandalorian. The director of possibly the most controversial Star Wars movie of all time, The Last Jedi, Johnson would be a polarizing pick. While his contribution to the Star Wars universe is undeniably visually stunning, there were those who took umbrage with his handling of fan favorite characters and some of the finer plot points in the script. Many fans would be content if Johnson never came near a Star Wars project ever again, while still others (once again, including this writer) would be interested to see Johnson's unique take on an episode of The Mandalorian. Rian Johnson himself has expressed interest in directing an episode, saying that he was "dying to." After all, who wouldn't want a chance to leave their unique mark on the Disney+ flagship program? Johnson also has a working relationship with Dave Filoni, as the latter spent time on the set of The Last Jedi. Filoni has spoken highly of Johnson in the past and credits him with giving Filoni numerous tips and pointers about directing live action. These tips have clearly stuck as Filoni's episodes, including the series premiere, are some of the highlights of The Mandalorian.
Recently, author and journalist Sariah Wilson was able to interview Rian Johnson and has been leaking nuggets from that interview. Wilson was also wondering if Johnson was lined up to direct an episode of season 3 and asked him if fans would be seeing his name in the credits of a Star Wars project in the near future. This is what she had to say about his response:
"I asked Rian if he'd ever consider doing an episode of The Mandalorian. He said he was dying to, but that for him it's all about scheduling. He's been writing Knives Out 2 and now he's going to go directly into filming it. So it would be a matter of finding time to break away and do it."
In addition to a sequel to Knives Out, there is also a plan for a third entry in the series which Johnson is in the process of developing concurrently with the sequel. Rian Johnson has quite the repertoire of film credits, spanning multiple genres and platforms including a new mystery streaming series heading to Peacock entitled Poker Face. Between working on the streaming show and his developing series of movies, Johnson does not have the time to commit to an episode of The Mandalorian. However, it seems to be only a matter of time before Johnson makes his debut on the show, given his critical acclaim in Hollywood and his existing relationships at Lucasfilm.
Source(s): Cinema Blend