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Star Wars’ Rian Johnson Knows That Positive Reactions Always Mirror A Backlash


Star Wars: The Last Jedi might have had quite a backlash from fans who didn't enjoy how the film subverted fan expectations and how the movie allegedly misused legacy characters like Luke Skywalker, but director Rian Johnson doesn't really mind.

Speaking in an interview with Uproxx to help promote his latest movie, Knives Out, Johnson got to talking about Star Wars fans' reception to The Last Jedi over the years. According to the filmmaker, the response to his film reminded him of the way he felt when he watched The Empire Strikes Back as a child.

"Yeah. It sticks," the director said, referring to Empire Strikes Back's ending, "That's why that's the one that, even though at that time I had that reaction to it, it stuck in me and it resonated with me. I remember the Prequels, that acrimony of the prequels. I think people forget exactly the tenor of the danger. We remember because we were in the thick of it. So, I mean, I don't know. I think that anything with a passionate following always has a passionate following and Star Wars is that, even more so. You can't be angry at one side of it when it's also the reason the positive is so passionate, you know? It's all part of the same thing and it always was like this basic thing. That's why I love it."

Johnson is right. Despite all the negativity that fans have had, there's also been a lot of positivity as well. Sure, The Last Jedi might have ended up being a divisive entry in Lucasfilm's sequel trilogy, however, it's also achieved success. Not only did the movie do exceptionally well at the box office, but it was showered with praise by critics and by fans as well.

Though it has its downsides, the Star Wars fanbase has a lot of passion, showing just how much everyone cares for the galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres December 20, 2019.

Read: Star Wars: The Rise of The Skywalker Shocking Final Scene Possibly Revealed [SPOILERS]

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