Star Wars: Director Colin Trevorrow Leaves Episode 9
More director drama at LucasFilm...
Yet more trouble at LucasFilm is being widely reported as Colin Trevorrow has become the latest director to join the growing pile of former Star Wars directors.
The Jurassic World helmer joins Phil Lord and Chris Miller who were most recently fired from Han Solo, with a considerable amount of talk suggesting that the disastrous performance of The Book Of Henry helping make the decision for LucasFilm. He was apparently enthusiastic about the opportunity to the end, but has been confirmed as stepping down.
LucasFilm and Trevorrow released a joint statement to confirm they have mutually agreed to the departure as their “visions for the project differ.” Which sounds like one of those nice ways of saying LucasFilm's vision for the project didn't include Trevorrow and there's very little he can actually do about it.
THR have suggested that Episode IX had script issues - which is why Jack Thorne was recently hired for a rewrite - and that Trevorrow’s relationship with Kathleen Kennedy had become “unmanageable.” Once more, attention will turn to the LucasFilm president (though she hasn't been wrong so far in her changes in personnel), who THR say "tried to avoid this decision” in the wake of the Han Solo controversy, but the time has come for a change.
It'll be intriguing to see who LucasFilm now turn to, with Rian Johnson and JJ Abrams immediately installed as the favourites to take over for a smooth transition. Inevitably, there will now be a wider conversation on whether LucasFilm are the problem, but Trevorrow follows the same pattern for the other directors who were sacked (or had control apparently taken from them) - all were flavours of the month (talented, yes, but very hyped on specific successes).
Gareth Edwards, Josh Trank and now Trevorrow all followed the model of Indie success, big budget movie, Star Wars... sacked, and even Lord and Miller partly follow the flavour of the month hiring. They are great, but they were hired because of perception of them, rather than after due diligence and with an awareness of their work method (which ultimately proved to be the sticking point).
Rian Johnson of course also follows that same pattern, but he's proved a better fit (which says nothing about the way he was hired and more about sheer luck in hindsight). So it might not be LucasFilm who are entirely a problem, but their hiring process certainly seems to be. That's where reconsideration needs to start.
They are great, but they were hired because of perception of them, rather than after due diligence and with an awareness of their work method (which ultimately proved to be the sticking point).
Deadline are already reporting that Johnson tops the shortlist to replace Trevorrow, and he has already openly stated his willingness to return to helm another Star Wars movie. So maybe that'll be the easiest way to transition?