'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Director Explains Why 'Wonder Woman' Worked

It seems like everyone is in agreement that Wonder Woman is one of the year’s best films, and [...]

It seems like everyone is in agreement that Wonder Woman is one of the year's best films, and the director of the upcoming Star Wars film agrees.

Rian Johnson was debating with someone on Twitter about what makes a film franchise successful when he revealed his thoughts on the new Wonder Woman movie.

The conversation was spurned after Johnson quoted Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Michael Green from an interview with EW, during which Green discussed whether or not the film would get a sequel.

"So many studios and property rights holders have seen the success of Marvel, which we all adore and wonder how to replicate it. For me, the lesson of Marvel is: you don't begin by building a universe. You begin by telling a story worth telling. And if it is a great story directed well and performed brilliantly and stays with people, it will become the black hole around which a galaxy can form. If you begin by trying to build the universe before creating a film worth watching, well, there be dragons. At no point in the creation of this story or script did anyone talk about spin-offs or how might things continue. It was always: what's our story and make sure you have a story that is worth the title."

Johnson tweeted his support of this point, spawning a debate over what's required to make a franchise.

While it takes a successful film to justify starting a franchise, there is no clear roadmap to achieve this goal. Wonder Woman never had her own solo film and was barely connected to what had already been established in DC Films' cinematic universe.

What worked in the movie, however, was a self-contained origin story about the making of a superhero and her personal journey.

If Johnson is kept these tenets in mind while making Star Wars: The Last Jedi, fans are likely in for a great movie rather than a serviceable film in a franchise.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres December 15.

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