Guillermo Del Toro Confirms He Was Asked To Helm 'Star Wars: Episode 7'
Brace yourselves, people: in an alternate galaxy far, far away, there is a Guillermo Del Toro-helmed Star Wars film in development.
Rampant speculation being the most powerful side effect of the Living Force, it's no wonder that last year's shocking news that we'll soon all be watching – and probably complaining about – Star Wars: Episode 7 has resulted in endless guessing from the Jeditariat. When we're not gushing about possible plot points, or the fact that the new film might feature a female lead. We're talking about the most common subject of baseless and not-so-baseless guesswork: Just who will be directing it?
With George Lucas retiring, the possibility of a somewhat clean slate for the Star Wars universe after the mess made of it by the prequel trilogy is enough to make even the most bitter ex-fan drool. In the weeks after the initial announcement of Episode 7, several directors were consistently mentioned as potential hirees. At the time it seemed like nothing more than wish fulfillment fantasies and baseless rumor, but it's beginning to look as though the rumored names reflected very real prospects.
One of the most frequently mentioned names was Pan's Labyrinth and Pacific Rim director Guillermo Del Toro. In November, Del Toro outright denied having been approached by Disney, but speaking this week to The Playlist he finally confirmed that he was, in fact, asked if he'd like the job. “We got one phone call to my agent saying, 'Is Guillermo interested?',” the director said. “And basically I have so much stuff already of my own, and I'm pursuing stuff that I'm generating already..."
He offered no other comment, aside from affirming that he'd love to see Brad Bird take the job, but in saying no to Star Wars, Del Toro is in good company. JJ Abrams recently revealed that he, too, turned down the chance to take over Star Wars, in his case because, as he put it, he's too big a fan to want to do anything more than watch the new films in theaters. Whether true or not, it's interesting that now two of the most obvious names-out-of-a-hat have said no to Star Wars 7.
Though Episode 7 is almost certainly racing into preproduction, Disney has not yet announced a director. Whether this is because they haven't hired one, or because the same CIA-levels of secrecy they employed to keep the purchase of the franchise a secret for more than a year are in full force now, I prefer to believe that the will of The Force is behind everything. (Flash Gordon director Mike Hodges for Episode 7, anyone?)
[via The Playlist]
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Ross Lincoln is an LA-based freelance writer from Oklahoma with an unhealthy obsession with comics, movies, video games, ancient history, Gore Vidal, and wine. Follow him on twitter (@rossalincoln).
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Comments
I still want to visit that parallel universe where David Lynch directed "Revenge of the Jedi", and killed off Han Solo (played by Christopher Walken).
Just FYI, I turned it down too.
I would have been pissed with Del Toro at the helm. He would have ruined The Hobbit as well. This is just more GOOD NEWS. Del Toro will never be known for anything other than Pan's Labyrinth. The Orphanage was OK. Pacific Rim will be just another FX disasterpiece.
the hobbit is already ruined... it's too far of the style of the book... the original english humour is substituted with that real dumb Jacksonian humour... the whole actual Tolkien family is saddened by the situation and the ultimate result... I think Del Toro was a better choice than Jackson... Jackson is not a great director...he is just ok...but i won't compare it to the great names...no ...not at all at all.
Del Toro is more well known for Hellboy than Pan's. Hellboy not only was seen by more people but it had quite a following. I personally really enjoyed Hellboy, Hellboy 2 was also good.
The Hobbit was a good time, our entire group enjoyed it and clearly by its decent legs at the box office and good crowd score, most people that saw it liked it.
There's not a director on earth with any amount of self-respect who wants to be known as "the guy who couldn't live up to The "Empire Strikes Back".
James Cameron or Ridley Scott could be a good idea...but it's not so realistic...i think they're too big names...and have their own movies already programmed ...
And why not Kenneth Branagh... he made many good films... he is british , he knows how to mix grandiose genre (Thor) with some interesting dialogues (Hamlet)...
Andrew Niccol is rather good and he is speciallized in sci-fi...so it's not a bad idea...but once in a while he can be inconstant in the quality of his movies...
There's surely some other interesting names to investigate
But if McG or Michael Bay is involved...i won't pay to See it...
Seems to me that all the great directors of our day have far more respect for George Lucas than the crazed fanboys that have mercilessly tortured and based the creator of Star Wars. Good for them all I say!
I wouldn't mind seeing Brad Bird, Matthew Vaughn, Joseph Kosinski, Alfonso Cuaron and David Fincher
That would be pretty expensive - don't you think?
And he also quit on the Hobbit, lazy Mexican.... I am glad he is not involved in either...
Oh well, one thing is for sure - it cannot possibly be any worse than Episodes I-III and it cannot be better than the original and Empire Strikes Back.
Del Toro has a good, imaginative, distinctive style, but it doesn't suit Star Wars.
Frank Oz, anyone? Yes, he of Yoda fame, has proved himself as a very competent director (Death at a Funeral, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels among others) and who better to understand Star Wars lore than Yoda himself.
Good choice I think he will be....
Ang Lee, hands down... I've always thought so since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Both Dragon and his Life of Pie have some of the same mythic, Joseph Campell-like Hero's Journal elements. Love Fincher, but no. A bit too dark (wait that actually might work, Dark Side of the Force and all that). And there's just no way that Ridely Scott or James Cameron should be allowed anywhere near Star Wars. Great directors also, but Star Wars needs charm and neither director can really pull that off.
Ooops! Sorry , "Pi"
Good one
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