Star Wars Episode 7: Why Andrew Adamson Should Direct

By Cameron Carpenter /

Steven Spielberg. Brad Bird. J.J. Abrams. The list of names for who fans want to see take on the Star Wars universe is getting shorter and shorter, as directors who are being volleyed for the directing position by fanbases are now becoming quite vocal in shutting those dreams down. Still, there are resounding cries for directors like Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods), Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Rango), and Rian Johnson (Looper, Brick) and those names have yet made statements. But one name that I never see on anyone's list is that of Andrew Adamson. In fact, you may not even recognize the name alone. But he's the wonderful fella that put Shrek and Narnia on the map, in their most successful installments. He shared his directorial position with Vicky Jenson for the first Shrek, and then remained on as director for Shrek 2 with Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon by his side. From this, he went on to do The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for Disney, and then returned with Prince Caspian. He's paired up with James Cameron to release his newest feature in Cirque du Soleil: World's Away, which, judging by its trailer, is going to be quite the spectacle piece. http://youtu.be/fgiLU9lNnU8 So, I'd like to take this moment to throw his name out there, with five reasons why he's the perfect man for the job.

5. He's Worked With Animation

To me, animation directors are some of the best. To be able to find life in data and map it out to mirror an exaggerated wave of our reality is a monumental task, and certainly not one that can be left up to a single person. That's why Pixar, and now Dreamworks, is so celebrated. The director tasks the animation department with his (or her) vision and then they work together to create the best possible realm from scratch. It's the very definition of having a masterful, directorial eye. It's a big reason why Brad Bird, who only has one live-action feature to his credit, was wanted so much for the job. Animation is often considered drivel for children, but creating 3D characters and landscapes with heart and substance is often much more difficult than lighting and shooting. This ability to visualize and create is absolutely necessary for the Star Wars universe, and I know that in this day and age, where CGI will most likely take over for practical effects (especially considering the purchase of ILM in Disney's deal with LucasFilm), it's better to have generated images that breathe instead of hog space for a glimmer effect. The director should find a balance between computer generation and real-life structures, and a director who has worked in both animation and live-action theoretically has that ability already ingrained. Chalk one up for Mr. Adamson.

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