TheStar Warsuniverse was thrown into turmoil yet again when it was announced that Lucasfilm andStar Wars 9director Colin Trevorrow had parted ways after 2 years of working together. The disruption pushed back production and the release date. Many fans have been left angry about the whole situation. After the dust barely settled, Lucasfilm announced thatThe Force Awakensdirector, J.J. Abrams would be taking over, leading many fans into a frenzy fueled by disappointment. ThoughThe Force Awakenswas generally well-received, manyStar Warsfans feel that it was just a re-telling ofA New Hopeand have started a petition to get Abrams fired from the project to keep him from ruining the final movie in the new trilogy.
Inversereports that Matt Vela out of California started the new petition to remove Abrams fromEpisode IX. Many assume thatThe Last Jediwill be a rip-off ofThe Empire Strikes Backand nowStar Warsfans are certain that J.J. Abrams is going torehash Return of the Jedifor the third and final installment in the new trilogy. According to the new petition, “Star Warsfans deserve better. They demand better.”
The petition goes on to highlight the fact that when the trilogy was announced, Lucasfilm and Disney also announced that a new director would helm each movie. The petition reads.
“At the start of the new sequel trilogy, beginning withThe Force Awakens, Lucasfilm and Disney promised a new director for each movie to promote a fresh new vision on every installment. With thehiring of J.J. Abrams to direct the upcoming Episode IX, Lucasfilm and Disney have both reneged on this promise.”
You can’t pull a fast one on Matt, Lucasfilm and Disney. He’s got his eyes on you and so do all 33 (as of this writing) supporters that have signed the hard-hitting petition so far. Matt summed up his views by using the rehash analogy. He explains.
“Therefore, to preventStar Wars Episode IXfrom becoming yet another rip off of the original trilogy (specifically, a rip off ofStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi), and for the good of theStar Warsbrand, we demand that Kathleen Kennedy replace J.J. Abrams asdirector of the upcoming Episode 9film.”
It is highly unlikely that this fan petition will make any sort of impact whatsoever, but it is interesting to see the way that a certain faction of theStar Warsfan base gets so irritated about changes in the franchise. Any time something new comes along, it’s straight into the trash for one reason or another, much like politics. Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, has said in the past that they attempt to keep track of what the fans want to keep theStar Warsuniverse ticking, but they have ignored the wishes of a small section of the fan base this time and they aren’t going to take it anymore.
J.J. Abrams is directingStar Wars 9, withshooting to begin summer 2018, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it unless Abrams decides to go rogue and do his own thing with the final movie in the trilogy. The movie will hit theatersDecember 2019no matter what, because Disney and Lucasfilm have shareholders they have to appease. Regardless, people are going to still go see the movie in record numbers and buy all of the merchandise that they can afford, so it doesn’t really matter for Lucasfilm and Disney. Even the haters will probably see it twice in the theater to dissect every last detail.
