George Lucas created theStar Warssaga, but he’s not the only director who contributed a movie to it. No one has helmed moreStar Warsmovies than Lucas; he’s also the only one to have directed an entireStar Warstrilogy from start to finish. But he recruited a few fellow filmmakers to help carry the load during the original trilogy, and Disney has since taken the baton and hired their own people for the sequel trilogy. It takes a steady directorial hand to balance the saga’s disparate influences and strike a consistent tone. EachStar Warsmovie is a western, a samurai film, and a fairy tale all rolled into one. It’s a daunting task to balance all those tones and genres, and an even more daunting task to try to satisfy the demandingStar Warsfan base.
George Lucas Directed A New Hope And The Entire Prequel Trilogy
TheStar Warsphenomenon started when George Lucas wrote and directed the original 1977 movie, later dubbedA New Hope. Lucas conceivedStar Warsas a pulpy throwback to the space adventure serials he grew up with, likeFlash Gordon, and created one of the earliest summer blockbusters.Star WarssurpassedJawsto become the highest-grossing movie ever made. It was more than a big enough hit to launch the sprawling, interconnected franchise that Lucas had envisioned. After Lucas delegated the second and third chapters of the original trilogy to other filmmakers, he returned to the director’s chair to helm the entire prequel trilogy. Some of his clunky dialogue was criticized, but Lucas pioneered groundbreaking CGI techniques to bring the prequels to life. The movies also deal with some deeply complex themes, like the morality of war and the transition from a democracy into a dictatorship.
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Irvin Kershner Directed The Empire Strikes Back
After launching theStar Warssaga withA New Hope, Lucas handed the directing duties over to Irvin Kershner forThe Empire Strikes Back.Empireis widely regarded to be the bestStar Warsmovie, and Kershner ably recaptured the escapist magic of the original film while exploring darker themes and storylines. He was responsible for staging and filming some ofStar Wars’ most iconic moments, like Han and Leia’s first kiss andthe “I am your father” twist. Kershner had previously helmed the neo-noir mystery thrillerEyes of Laura Marsand was nominated for the Palme d’Or for his breakout filmHoodlum Priest. He went on to direct several other big-budget blockbuster sequels, likeRoboCop 2and the unofficial James Bond filmNever Say Never Againstarring Sean Connery.
Richard Marquand Directed Return Of The Jedi
After David Lynch, Steven Spielberg, and David Cronenberg all turned down the job (according toCBR), Lucas hired Richard Marquand to conclude the originalStar Warstrilogy withReturn of the Jedi. Afterthe dark turn taken inEmpire,Jedimarked a return to the familiar lighthearted tone of the original movie. There are rumors that Marquand was required to shoot master shots of each scene inReturn of the Jediso that Lucas could cut the film how he saw fit in the editing room. Marquand is also known for directing the Fab Four biopicBirth of the Beatles, the spy filmEye of the Needle, and the legal thrillerJagged Edge.
J.J. Abrams Directed The Force Awakens And The Rise Of Skywalker
When Disney acquired Lucasfilm and announced the development of aStar Warssequel trilogy, the Mouse House hired J.J. Abrams to kick it off withEpisode VII. Abrams had previously rebooted theStar Trekfranchise with the “Kelvin Timeline.” In continuing the Skywalker saga withThe Force Awakens, Abrams leaned heavily into fans’ nostalgia for theStar Warsiconography. After emptying his “mystery box” all over the first sequel movie –teasing Rey’s mysterious parents, introducing the Knights of Ren, placing Luke’s long-lost lightsaber in Maz Kanata’s basement, etc. – Abrams unexpectedly ended up having to figure out a way to tie it all together when he was hired to conclude the sequel trilogy.The Rise of Skywalkerreceived some of the worst reviews of anyStar Warsmovie as it struggled to wrap up a narrative that wasn’t planned from the beginning.
Rian Johnson Directed The Last Jedi
In between Abrams’ sequel trilogy book-ends, Rian Johnson directedThe Last Jedi. Johnson had previously helmed the twisty sci-fi thrillerLooperand the subversive neo-noir gemBrick, and latercreated theKnives Outfranchise. In stark contrast to Abrams’ nostalgia-baiting, Johnson set out to deconstruct theStar Warsmyth. He turned Luke Skywalker from a legendary hero into a bitter, cynical hermit who gave up the fight against evil. He revealed that the Resistance and the First Order buy their weapons and war machines from the same people, so maybe they’re not so different.The Last Jediis undeniably a visually stunning movie, but Johnson’s insistence on taking the mythical elements out ofStar Warsrubbed a lot of fans the wrong way.
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