Seven years after Star Wars: The Last Jedi divided the galaxy far, far away, director Rian Johnson is standing firm on his creative choices—and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
In a recent conversation with Polygon, Johnson reflected on the intense fan reaction to his 2017 Star Wars installment and explained why he believes challenging audience expectations was not only necessary but essential to keeping the franchise alive and relevant.
Shaking the Box Was Always the Plan
Johnson made it clear that he anticipated the polarized response to The Last Jedi from the moment he set out to make it. His goal wasn’t to play it safe or deliver fan service wrapped in a neat bow—it was to genuinely challenge what a Star Wars movie could be.
“I was hoping for that—I wasn’t afraid of it per se,” Johnson explained.
“Having grown up a Star Wars fan, I know that thing where something challenges it, and I know the recoil against that. I know how there can be infighting in the world of Star Wars. But I also know that the worst sin is to handle it with kid gloves.”
For Johnson, creating something bold that “shook the box” was far preferable to delivering a film that treated the franchise and its passionate fanbase with excessive caution. He pointed to the history of Star Wars itself as evidence that controversy and debate have always been part of the saga’s DNA.
Every Star Wars Movie Has Rattled Fans
The director drew a direct line from The Last Jedi’s reception back to The Empire Strikes Back, widely considered one of the greatest sequels ever made but not universally beloved upon its 1980 release. That film’s dark tone, shocking revelations, and cliffhanger ending initially confused and upset many fans who expected something closer to the original’s triumphant adventure.
“The worst sin is to be afraid of doing anything that shakes it up,” Johnson said. “Because every Star Wars movie going back to Empire and onward shook the box and rattled fans, and got them angry, and got them fighting, and got them talking about it. And then for a lot of them, got them loving it and coming around on it eventually.”
This pattern has repeated throughout Star Wars history. George Lucas’ prequel trilogy faced withering criticism when it debuted in the late 1990s and early 2000s, yet today those films enjoy a devoted following and renewed appreciation, particularly from fans who grew up with them. Johnson has previously mentioned how his own childhood arguments about The Phantom Menace helped him process the online backlash to The Last Jedi.
The Faith Connection
Johnson drew an unexpected parallel between Star Wars fandom and his own experience with religion, using it to illustrate how meaningful belief systems must engage with challenge rather than retreat from it.
“People who are raised outside of faith sometimes think it’s this touchy thing that you have to handle with kid gloves,” he said. “I grew up very Christian. It was a very personal thing for me. I’m not a believer anymore. I’m no longer a Christian. But when I was… You’re constantly rattling the box for yourself.”
This comparison came up as Johnson discussed his approach to depicting religion in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, his upcoming third installment in the Knives Out franchise. He emphasized that both fandom and faith remain vital only when they interact with and respond to the world around them.
“It’s just like being a Star Wars fan and seeing a twist where you’re like, ‘Oh God, that doesn’t make me feel great, because that’s not what I expected,'” Johnson explained. “As a Christian, the world is constantly throwing that at you. It’s just your daily life. Assimilating that is how you grow. That’s part of the purpose of both—it’s only alive when it’s interacting with the world.”
What The Last Jedi Actually Did
The Last Jedi certainly lived up to Johnson’s goal of shaking things up. The film featured unexpected character deaths, subverted long-held fan theories about Rey’s parentage, presented Luke Skywalker in a disillusioned state that shocked longtime followers, and explored the Force in new ways that expanded the mythology.
These choices generated intense online debate and division within the fanbase. Some praised the film’s willingness to take risks and examine the legendary Jedi from a more complex angle. Others felt it betrayed the characters they loved and disrespected decades of established lore.
Moving On from Star Wars
With the launch of Wake Up Dead Man approaching, Johnson has officially moved beyond Star Wars. The trilogy of new Star Wars films that Lucasfilm once announced with Johnson at the helm remains in limbo with no current plans for production.
The franchise itself has been cautious about its return to theaters. The Mandalorian and Grogu will mark the first new Star Wars theatrical release since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, which itself faced criticism for seemingly walking back some of The Last Jedi’s bolder choices. The Mandalorian film represents what many see as a safer bet, built on the foundation of the beloved Disney+ series that has proven popular with fans.
Following that, Ryan Gosling will lead Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for 2027, as the franchise attempts to recapture its theatrical footing after a seven-year absence from cinemas.
The Legacy Question
Whether Johnson’s vision for The Last Jedi will ultimately be vindicated by time—as The Empire Strikes Back and the prequels have been—remains to be seen. What’s clear is that he has no regrets about making a film that sparked passionate discussion rather than one that played things safe.
In an era where major franchises often prioritize broad appeal over artistic risk, Johnson’s willingness to defend his creative choices offers a reminder that the most memorable entries in beloved series are often the ones that dared to be divisive.
