‘Quiet Place’ Writers Turned Down Star Wars, Tells Lucasfilm To Start New Franchises

[bferr1972]

Someone should take a principled stand and tell Marvel to make something other than boring superhero movies. How about a wartime musical?

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

Someone should take a principled stand and tell Marvel to make something other than boring superhero movies. How about a wartime musical?

Not Marvel, but with Fox now under Disney’s wing, they’re funding Wes Anderson next film, which is a war time musical.

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Not Marvel, but with Fox now under Disney’s wing, they’re funding Wes Anderson next film, which is a war time musical.

LOL! I was just riffing there. I had no idea...

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by kemcha

Personally, I think Kathleen Kennedy has been too busy trying to lecture and attack fans of the franchise

At worst, she's stood up publicly for the people invovled in making the recent Star Wars films, some of whom have been subjected to plenty of inexcusable abuse, by making a distinction between people with agendas and the real fans.

Originally Posted by kemcha

What's funny is that this isn't the first time someone has turned down an offer from Lucasfilm (under Disney's ownership) and it's more of an issue with Lucasfilm's public image than anything else...

Do any specific funny examples of this come to mind? Or can we file this alongside the reports Kennedy's and Johnson's imminent dismissal over the past two years?

Maybe it's more accurate to say, considering it's actually been expressed by some film-makers, most notably whatshisname...... uh, George Lucas, that the nature of the commentary provided by some people as "fans" and inevitably of being cast as the person that people love to hate makes trying to produce Star Wars films an almost thankless and unpleasant task at times. i.e. the "bad publicity" you are referring to.

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by Martoto

Maybe it's more accurate to say, considering it's actually been expressed by some film-makers, most notably whatshisname...... uh, George Lucas, that the nature of the commentary provided by some people as "fans" and inevitably of being cast as the person that people love to hate makes trying to produce Star Wars films an almost thankless and unpleasant task at times. i.e. the "bad publicity" you are referring to.

See Christopher McQuarrie as another more recent example.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

How about a wartime musical?

[bferr1972]

Yes, Captain America is a musical. Bravo.

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

Someone should take a principled stand and tell Marvel to make something other than boring superhero movies. How about a wartime musical?

You are aware that Marvel Films only came into existence to very specifically produce superhero movie adaptations of their comic book properties, right? They are not comparable to LucasFilm in any way.

[spanky87]

Eh, Lucasfilm wasn't producing non-Star Wars/Indiana Jones films on the regular before the Disney acquisition. Since 1989 they only produced 3, all of which were George Lucas pet projects, and the last one was under Disney.

Obviously things are different now with Disney being their sole distributor, but it won't take them long to catch up to that 3 with 'Children of Blood and Bone' in the pipeline at Lucasfilm.

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by Shingster

You are aware that Marvel Films only came into existence to very specifically produce superhero movie adaptations of their comic book properties, right? They are not comparable to LucasFilm in any way.

Lucasfilm is the House that R2-D2 and Indiana Jones built, just as Marvel is the House that Spider-Man and Captain America built. See? I just compared them.

[Jim Pez]

I love Star Wars but I just don't want to see Disney jump the shark with Star Wars.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Jim Pez

I love Star Wars but I just don't want to see Disney jump the shark with Star Wars.

Correct - and they havent....yet. Im reasonably confident that JJ will look to plase the majority of the fanbase and get TROS mostly right. After that? I dont care what they do since the saga and characters I care about will be out of the story/mix.

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Eh, Lucasfilm wasn't producing non-Star Wars/Indiana Jones films on the regular before the Disney acquisition. Since 1989 they only produced 3, all of which were George Lucas pet projects, and the last one was under Disney.

Obviously things are different now with Disney being their sole distributor, but it won't take them long to catch up to that 3 with 'Children of Blood and Bone' in the pipeline at Lucasfilm.

I think they made four in a two year period 85-86. And that makes up more than half the non SW and Indy films made by George's LFL in total in just under forty years.

Where were the AQP guys all those years when George needed them to remind him of his responsibilities?

[klauswhereareyou]

Radioland Murders was a post-wartime pseudo musical made by Lucasfilm back in the mid-90's.

[kemcha]

Originally Posted by Martoto

Do any specific funny examples of this come to mind?

There are more than a few that come to mind: Guillermo del Toro, David Fincher, Brad Bird come to mind, after Disney took ownership of Lucasfilm. Even J.J. Abrams initially turned down Star Wars Episode VII. From what I also heard, Kennedy didn't want Abrams directing The Force Awakens. The division over The Last Jedi, among fans, was possibly the reason why Abrams was asked to return to direct the last film in the saga.

There are other directors who have turned down Disney/Lucasfilm for a Star Wars film that I wasn't able to compile in enough time. But, there are also actors who have turned down roles in Kennedy's Star Wars franchise as well. The fact that we now have writers turning down Lucasfilm seems to indicate that the studio's problems might be larger than before.

Originally Posted by Arawn

Why is TFA in that category? Solo lost money; TLJ divided fans. TFA did neither.

The division over The Force Awakens has been growing ever since The Last Jedi was released. Before TLJ, the common complaint was that TLJ was a remake of A New Hope and nobody can mistake the similarities between the two films. Solo isn't that bad of a film but, and this may be a leap, that Solo may have suffered at the box office as a direct result of The Last Jedi.

Rogue One seems to be the only real success that Lucasfilm has under the Disney banner. It's not like Disney Star Wars can't produce great content. They did this with Rogue One and Star Wars: Rebels. The Mandalorian has the potential to be a great live action series if the producers, writers and directors can stay away from the social justice aspect that plagued TLJ.

I just think that Lucasfilm needs to start winning back the trust of Star Wars fans because no matter how they feel about the Star Wars fan community, it's that very same community they need to make future films, television shows and streaming projects successful.

[mwynn]

Where is your proof to back up any of that?

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by kemcha

The division over The Force Awakens has been growing ever since The Last Jedi was released. Before TLJ, the common complaint was that TLJ was a remake of A New Hope and nobody can mistake the similarities between the two films. Solo isn't that bad of a film but, and this may be a leap, that Solo may have suffered at the box office as a direct result of The Last Jedi.

Rogue One seems to be the only real success that Lucasfilm has under the Disney banner. It's not like Disney Star Wars can't produce great content. They did this with Rogue One and Star Wars: Rebels. The Mandalorian has the potential to be a great live action series if the producers, writers and directors can stay away from the social justice aspect that plagued TLJ.

I just think that Lucasfilm needs to start winning back the trust of Star Wars fans because no matter how they feel about the Star Wars fan community, it's that very same community they need to make future films, television shows and streaming projects successful.

Rogue One is great. Solo did nothing for me at all. TFA was very safe but mostly worked. TLJ had some cool parts but ultimately was very divisive. I aint getting into details for the 73,000 time but thats where we are at.

Disney CAN produce good Star Wars movies but they have to get the right people on the job. Especially the writing team. I believe they are in the right mindset with JJ Abrams back at the helm. There is no reason why Disney cant crank out great SW-universe films into the distant future. They have the resources, thats for sure.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Beautifully stated. Its like ex-NFL head coaches turning down coaching jobs with certain teams due to the owners of those teams being known to be trouble and/or are seen as problematic for the franchise in general. Disney/Kennedy have that reputation at this stage. So, some feel its better to stay away.

That's in interesting analogy. Have you ever seen a candidate for a head coaching position who didn't get the job talk about how disappointed he was and how much he really, really, really, really wanted the job?

Don't the guys who get passed over almost always act like not getting the job was actually their idea? It wasn't the right fit, we couldn't agree on the money, I decided to pursue other options, blah, blah, blah.

Sound familiar?

Originally Posted by kemcha

There are more than a few that come to mind: Guillermo del Toro, David Fincher, Brad Bird come to mind, after Disney took ownership of Lucasfilm.

GDT didn't turn Lucasfilm down. You even have that one a little backwards, actually. GDT pitched them a Godfather-esque Jabba the Hutt origin story and they, well, let's say they have not yet hired him to make it.

And where did you learn that Lucasfilm offered jobs to Fincher or Bird? They talked to them about directing EVII but ultimately went with JJ. Have either of them said 'oh yeah, they totally offered me the job but I turned them down'?

Did they offer the job to everybody they talked to? And they all turned them down? Do you seriously think that's how things shook out?

Originally Posted by kemcha

Even J.J. Abrams initially turned down Star Wars Episode VII.

This one is actually true but ironically it kind of undercuts your general thrust.

JJ definitely hesitated before agreeing to direct VII but it's kind of hard to lay that decision at the feet of all these supposed problems and so-called controversies plaguing the franchise cause none of them had happened yet.

He didn't hesitate because of Lucasfilm, he hesitated because he wasn't sure he wanted the job.

And then his wife helped him to change his mind and I for one am very glad she did.

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

Lucasfilm is the House that R2-D2 and Indiana Jones built, just as Marvel is the House that Spider-Man and Captain America built. See? I just compared them.

I meant in the context of the topic at hand, I should have been clearer about that because otherwise you get a glib, entirely spurious and vague "comparison" thrown back at you. Lucasfilm has decades of producing original content alongside franchise work behind it, which is why they quite rightly should be held to account for sitting back and cashing in on Star Wars (and soon Indiana Jones if they can make it work). They've become an extremely boring studio. Marvel never had a history like that, so there's no reason for anyone to complain about them staying in their wheelhouse producing superhero movies, so your example was absolutely terrible.

I do agree it's a bit of a weird situation for these writers to complain about the lack of original output tough, the studio showing enough faith and interest in their ability to help create a new series for them, but you throw some shade their way instead? It could all be a load of BS tough made to generate some public criticism.

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by Shingster

Lucasfilm has decades of producing original content alongside franchise work behind it, which is why they quite rightly should be held to account for sitting back and cashing in on Star Wars (and soon Indiana Jones if they can make it work). They've become an extremely boring studio. Marvel never had a history like that, so there's no reason for anyone to complain about them staying in their wheelhouse producing superhero movies, so your example was absolutely terrible.

Producing original content, yes, none of which has yielded any new franchises, which I think is at the root of the AQP writers' observation.

However, my comparison was sincere and not meant to be "glib, entirely spurious and vague." (Okay, maybe a little glib.) IMO, Lucasfilm as currently constituted is nothing more than a steward for the legacy of its founder, carrying on the projects he created as best as they are able. Any new projects created under their aegis will likely have nothing to do with that man and his legacy, and thus could just as well be produced by any other studio in Hollywood. In my mind, Lucasfilm is synonymous with George Lucas, Star Wars and Indiana Jones; asking them to do something different would be akin to asking Marvel to make something other than superhero movies. I stand by my "absolutely terrible" comparison.