Some of the biggest Star Wars fans in the world are the Hollywood writers, directors, and producers who bought a ticket for a Jedi movie in the 1970s and 1980s. On Tuesday, as headlines announced a new hope for a return to Star Wars glory, those Tinseltown loyalists were hit by the Force all over again.
“All I can say is my heart literally started racing when I heard,” said Damon Lindleof, screenwriter for Prometheus. George Nolfi, writer-director of The Adjustment Bureau, said the horizon will need to be bigger to handle the colossal project taking shape there. “I can’t imagine,” Nolfi said Monday night, “a larger event-film for our generation than a sequel toReturn of the Jedi.”
These guys seem pretty psyched about this.
I do have to comment on this in passing:
Then there’s Star Trek franchise director J.J. Abrams, the transported Star Wars fan who once said his toughest Starfleet mission will be pulling the brand out of Lucas’ shadow. On Monday, he was so conflicted in his feelings about the news that veered into something close to Shatnerian syntax: “Part of me? Thrilled. Part of me? Terrified. Most of me? Thrillified.”
It’s great that he’s thrillified, but as you might guess, I’m taking a bit of offense on the Star Trek in Lucas’ shadow thing. I remember hearing that before, and I think that was part of the reason J.J.‘s Star Trek wasn’t better than it was (and it could have been so much better). Star Trek has never been in Lucas’ shadow.
Anyway, I’m sure there’s lots more news coming about Star Wars for the next little while so brace yourselves.