Rian Johnson Stands Firm on Shocking Star Wars Scene That Divided Fans

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The Last Jedi,” directed by Rian Johnson. This film sparked discussions about the origins of scavenger Rey (played by Daisy Ridley), the disappearance of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and the true identity of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), who was rumored to be related to the ancient Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis. These speculations were fueled by references in earlier “Star Wars” films like “Revenge of the Sith.

In the second part of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the theory about Snoke being the main antagonist was disproven when Kylo Ren killed Snoke in The Last Jedi by slicing him in half with a lightsaber. This character, who seemed like an Emperor-like figure in The Force Awakens, was believed to be the villain of the sequel trilogy, but fans’ theories about Supreme Leader Snoke quickly vanished with his death. It later became clear in J.J. Abrams’ film The Rise of Skywalker that Snoke was actually under Palpatine’s control and he somehow came back to life.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, published on Monday, the director of ‘Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man’ admitted that his proposed Star Wars trilogy, which was announced in 2017, is as defunct as the character Snoke, and clarified misconceptions about Rian Johnson having handed over ‘Episode VIII’ without discussing a direction for the middle film.

As a devoted cinephile, I had the privilege of conversing with the director, sharing invaluable insights, and spending extended periods immersed in his creative process. I delved deep into his mind, understanding every decision he made along the way. Having said that, our conversation marked the beginning of my cinematic journey, where I assumed the role of director, all while he was engrossed in the making of “The Force Awakens”. To put it simply, none of the choices made were aimed at reversing any prior work. Instead, they were driven by a desire to advance the story J.J. had penned, and further develop the characters he had so skillfully crafted.

He went on, stating, “Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm’s president] expressed, ‘We’re considering a candidate for this series who could create the equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back.’ I treated this task with great importance. Perhaps even more than some might have preferred. To me, that didn’t just signify incorporating references to The Empire Strikes Back; it meant striving to genuinely achieve what The Empire Strikes Back accomplished.

In “The Last Jedi,” Luke met his end along with two characters brought into play by Abrams in “The Force Awakens”: the character of Supreme Leader Snoke, and Captain Phasma, the chrome-armored First Order antagonist played by Gwendoline Christie. Kylo Ren informed Rey that her parents were merely junk traders who sold her for money they needed to drink, effectively debunking theories suggesting that the orphan might be related to the Skywalkers or a member of the Solo or Kenobi families.

When Rolling Stone questioned the decision in ‘The Last Jedi’ to eliminate the newly established Emperor, Johnson explained that instead, they were transitioning Kylo Ren, son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, and a former apprentice of Luke Skywalker, into the main antagonist, replacing Snoke.

Johnson shared that delving into J.J.’s script for the movie ‘Force Awakens’, observing daily footage, and witnessing Adam Driver’s character’s power, left him captivated. He found the interrogation scene between Rey and Kylo in the first film to be extremely potent, as it showcased this complex villain. This intricate character made him feel drawn. In his view, he didn’t find it simple to eliminate Snoke.

In his explanation, Johnson justified Snoke’s death by stating that he “went to great lengths to utilize him in the most dramatically significant manner, which was to propel Kylo’s character further and establish him as effectively as I could.” He then remarked, “Ultimately, it boils down to one’s perspective. To me, Snoke represented such a captivating and complex antagonist. He seemed the best choice for future development.

In a surprising twist, Abrams reintroduced Emperor Palpatine at the start of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This marked the return of the main antagonist from both the original and prequel trilogies in the ninth and concluding episode of the Skywalker Saga. Initially, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren took on the role of the film’s villain, but he eventually underwent a change of heart in the third act. Interestingly, Jedi Rey was revealed to be a relative of Palpatine.

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2025-07-14 21:41