With the long awaited theatrical release of director J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens only a little over a week away (at the time of writing this), everyone seems to be looking forward to the cinematic return to a galaxy far, far away. Even former series creator, director, and property owner George Lucas had kind things to say about the new film, promising that fans will love Episode VII.
Once Force Awakens has come and gone from the multiplex, fans will be treated to several subsequent titles in the Star Wars franchise - including at least one spinoff movie that still needs a director, following the departure of Josh Trank. There are undoubtedly plenty of talented filmmakers up to the task of bringing the as of yet untitled 2020 production to life, though Episode VII director Abrams has one name specifically in mind.
According to an interview conducted with Abrams by Yahoo! Movies, once the helmer of the latest Star Wars production makes his exit from the multi-billion dollar franchise, he for one would like to see Ava DuVernay, the Oscar-nominated director of last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. bio-picture Selma, enter the genre picture canon. Keeping in mind that Abrams and Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy are considering a wide range of possible female filmmakers for the position, Abrams expounded on his reasoning for wanting to hire DuVernay as follows:
“One name that immediately comes to mind is Ava DuVernay, who I thought did just a mind-blowingly great job with Selma. And getting to know her a little since that movie…she is such a fan of genre films and storytelling…because she loves the world so much and loves this genre and is such a talented storyteller. So if I had a say in this, which I don’t, I’d give her whatever she wants.”
DuVernay has indeed long worked behind the scenes on fantasy, science-fiction, and comic book fare, having served in promotional/publicity services on such films as Spy Kids, Spider-Man 2, and I, Robot (along with many other genre tentpoles from the 2000s) - and after her work on Selma, hiring her to helm a future Star Wars picture reads as all the better an idea. Similarly, DuVernay has already shown an interest in dipping her toes in the waters of big-budget, genre filmmaking as a director, having met with Marvel Studios about directing the upcoming Black Panther film in the past.
It will be interesting to see who Lucasfilm does recruit to direct a Star Wars film next - especially if it’s DuVernay or another similarly talented female filmmaker. It would certainly be a captivating concept to lend a writer-director as critically well-regarded as DuVernay the reins to the Star Wars universe, though only time will tell whether such a possibility comes true.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens releases in theaters on December 18th, 2015, followed by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on December 16th, 2016, Star Wars: Episode VIII on May 26th, 2017, and the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25th, 2018. Star Wars: Episode IX is expected to reach theaters in 2019, followed by the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.
Source: Yahoo! Movies
