There has been a firestorm of speculation on who will direct Star Wars: Episode VII ever since word broke that Disney purchased Lucasfilm and the rights to Star Wars with plans to churn out a new sequel trilogy starting in 2015. Big name directors including Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Zack Snyder and Brad Bird have disavowed any involvement with the picture, but Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) is a name that keeps popping up. We recently reported on some of Trevorrow’s comments about the new movie as a Star Wars fan. Now, a new video interview has surfaced with Trevorrow talking about possibly helming a movie with a significant fan base. Hit the jump to check out the video.
[Update: Trevorrow has reached out on Twitter to clarify his statement, denying that he's involved with the new Star Wars. More after the jump.]
Update: Trevorrow took to his Twitter account last night to put the Star Wars talk to rest:
To clarify, there is another film we all love that I’m currently trying not to mess up. Odds I will direct Episode VII: 3720 to 1.
— Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) November 19, 2012
@maerj2000 That is what I am saying.
— Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) November 19, 2012
Our original story follows below.
In a video interview this past summer for the MacGuffin Podcast (via The Daily Blam), Trevorrow can be heard discussing an upcoming opportunity to direct a movie with a big built in fanbase. Skip to 21:45 for the relevant quotes:
Here’s what Trevorrow said:
“As far as professional life, I can’t speak with any specificity as to what the next thing will be. There are amazing opportunities that have arisen as a result of this. One of them, I will say, will probably create a great deal of ire against me on the Internet when people find out what it is. So, I just want to say in advance that I promise you, for all of those who love the mythology that I will be tackling, trust that I love it as much as you do. And I will respect it, and hopefully make it not suck.”
Trevorrow also spoke Moviezine during the Stockholm International Film Festival and had the following to say (translated (via Google) from Swedish):
I would not comment much on it, but I’m as much a Star Wars fan like everyone else who grew up with it as one of the most important in their lives. I am deeply aware of how incredibly important it is for billions of people. It really is a mythology, and possibly also a religion for many. I can not comment on what my involvement would be, but I can definitely say that I would love to direct a Star Wars movie at some point in my life.It would be incredible. I will not be deterred by it. While I understand that every thinking director who cares about the series as much as I do, would be afraid to ruin something. But I also believe that there is a risk that many directors would gladly take, precisely because they care so much about it.
This is a specific example of something that has to feel connected with the earlier films. There will be a sequel to “Return of the Jedi”, in a special world that requires a special style. Whoever makes the film must not deviate too far, at least not with these films … But you know, they will make the Star Wars films as long as we live.Disney has seen what Marvel managed to do, to prove that their universe is infinite.So, the next three films have a responsibility, they are iconic and finishing a story that influenced pop culture for decades. But after that, we will get to see some really awesome movies in the Star Wars universe. We will see daring, exciting directors take on crazy Star Wars movies underwater, and everything. And I look forward to seeing them all!
A lot of people are writing Trevorrow off as having no chance at the director’s chair, so he is clearly the dark horse candidate at the moment. He’s in his late 30s with only the indie film Safety Not Guaranteed in his director’s column. Although George Lucas was younger than Trevorrow when he helmed the original Star Wars, he also had two films under his belt, one of which (American Graffiti) landed five Oscar nominations. The only things Trevorrow has on his side is the fact that he would come cheaply to Disney and would be much easier to pressure into giving in to studio demands. For our money, it still comes down to Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) or Jon Favreau (Iron Man).
Here’s a look at all of our previous and ongoing coverage of the new Star Wars sequels:
- Disney Buys Lucasfilm for $4 Billion; STAR WARS: EPISODE 7 Will Kick Off New Trilogy in 2015 [Updated]
- George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy Talk the Future of STAR WARS; Reveal They’ve Already Met with Writers for EPISODE VII
- 5 Suggestions for Who Should Direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
- Disney CEO Bob Iger and George Lucas Talk LucasFilm Acquisition and STAR WARS
- Fox Still Owns Rights to STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE; Box Set Releases Could Be Tricky
- Could the Next STAR WARS Trilogy Feature Luke Skywalker in His 30s or 40s?
- Mark Hamill Comments on STAR WARS Sale, Meeting with George Lucas and Carrie Fisher About the Upcoming Sequel Trilogy and More!
- George Lucas to Donate Most of His $4 Billion from Lucasfilm Sale to Education Charity
- STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Likely to Depart from Cartoon Network in Wake of Disney Purchase
- Is Matthew Vaughn in Talks to Direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII?
- STAR WARS Sequel News: Harrison Ford Open to Returning as Han Solo in the New Trilogy
- Mark Millar Gives KICK-ASS 2 Updates; Comments on Matthew Vaughn Possibly Directing STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
- STAR WARS Sequel News: Michael Arndt May Pen STAR WARS: EPISODE VII; Brad Bird, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg to Read His Treatment; Zack Snyder Out
- George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy Talk STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Directors; Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino Take Themselves Out of the Running
- STAR WARS Sequel News: Disney and Lucasfilm Confirm Michael Arndt as Screenwriter for STAR WARS: EPISODE 7
- Abrams, Favreau, Del Toro, and Trevorrow Talk about Directing STAR WARS; Plus Recap on Recent EPISODE VII News
- Frank Marshall Says STAR WARS Director Search Down to a Couple of Candidates; Joe Johnston Comments on Helming EPISODE VII
- Carrie Fisher Says She’s Going to Be in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII [Updated]
- Brad Bird Says He’s Not Directing STAR WARS; 1952 Likely His Next Film
25 Things to Know About G.I. JOE: RETALIATION from our Set Visit; Plus Video Blog Recap
Dwayne Johnson Talks Playing Roadblock, His Preparation Process, Returning to WWE, FAST 6, & More on the Set of G.I. JOE: RETALIATION
Kevin Feige Talks IRON MAN 3’s Surprising Love Triangle, Pepper Potts’ Role in the Story, and More
Graphic Violence Abounds in Extended Preview for NBC’s HANNIBAL
First Red-Band Trailer for KICK-ASS 2 Starring Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Jim Carrey
Should we really entrust the Star Wars franchise to an unknown?
At least for the first film, they need to reintroduce Star Wars as a critically viable blockbuster franchise. They should bring in a filmmaker with proven blockbuster chops, like a Favreau or Vaughn, and leave indie talents for the sequels, once the framework is already established.
He just tweeted that he was talking about a different project in the interview, which was filmed 4 months ago. He wasn’t talking about Star Wars, and he says he’s not doing it.
Look, anyone and everyone will promise to make a Star Wars film that “doesn’t suck.” Heck, George Lucas didn’t set out to make films that sucked with the prequels.
I think thanks to publicists and the internet, it’s a lot easier for hacks (and I’m not saying Trevorrow is a hack, because I haven’t seen his work) to say all the right things, regardless of whether they really understand. Paul WS Anderson said all the right things when he was about to make Alien Versus Predator, and if you saw that movie (unfortunately I did) then you know that he didn’t understand the first thing about what makes the Alien franchise work.
this guy is really pissing me off. Colin your film was nice but no one is going to intrust a first time director to hold this behemoth of a franchise. IT AIN’T HAPPENING!
You sound like a crying fanboy. god damn man grow some balls and stop begging in public. you sound pathetic.
It didn’t sound like he was begging to me. More like preaching to the choir.
Well said Lance – and thanks for reminded me of AVP.
Sorry Colin but you are not directing episode 7
JOSH TRANK” should direct! Anyone ho saw “Chronicle” knows he would be perfect!
Mathew Vaughn already said he not doing it. And Jon Farveu is to “safe” as a director.
Chronicle was good, but it wasn’t fantastic. We need somebody with more experience.
I would sooner trust an “untested” indie outsider like Trevorrow, than some studio fave who as already failed spectacularly, like Favreau or Vaughn. Studio movies SUCK.
Where exactly has Vaughn failed?
Seconded
I would sooner trust an \"untested\" indie outsider like Trevorrow, than some studio fave who as already failed spectacularly, like Favreau or Vaughn. Studio movies SUCK.
Please no. While I like his enthusiasm and passion for the original trilogy….that doesn’t account for jack shit when it comes to taking on a new trilogy as a director. There is so much more that goes into a project (and making it GOOD) than being a fan of the work at hand. This guy’s style is as far from ideal as it could possibly be for a Star Wars movie…especially one that is looking to reinvigorate a franchise and desperately NEEDS to be good.
At this point, for my money, the only men left who can do the job right are Sam Mendes or Gore Verbinski. They have the style, the know-how of practical vs. CG, they have undertaken BIG franchise films and made them GREAT… AND they have enough say in the business to not be pushed around by the studio.
If this guy actually gets the job….Star Wars is lost forever…..and the folks at Disney should probably start sleeping in fear.
and what did Richard Maquand do before return of the jedi?exactly STFU people
what did peter jackson do before lord of the rings? yes The Frighteners yes that surely prepared him for LOTR
Trevorrow just confirmed on twitter that he is not going to direct Star Wars. Seems like Disney passed on him.
GOOD! There’s still hope for Michael Bay!
MICHAEL BAY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. VOMIT!
DAREN. ARONOFSKY.
how can he promise that, the script might suck!
The headline of this article is a complete work of fiction? At no point does he use the words Star Wars or Episode 7. End of article.
Wow, still no update on the fact that this story is one big inaccurate claim? That headline is an unsubstantiated lie to get hits. This has nothing to do with Star Wars.
Could he be talking about………FRAGGLE ROCK!?!?!?!?
First property that popped into my head that is getting a movie version…….