Rian Johnson Still Hopes to Return to Star Wars

Back in 2017, The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was handed the keys to his own Star Wars trilogy. Eight years later, fans are still waiting to see where he’d take the galaxy far, far away. In a new interview with The Independent, Johnson finally shed some light on why those films haven’t happened—yet.

“What happened? Knives Out,” Johnson admitted. Since his game-changing entry in the Star Wars saga, the writer-director has leaned heavily into his love of whodunnits, launching a hit franchise at Netflix starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. He’s also kept busy with the acclaimed mystery-comedy Poker Face on Peacock.

Despite the delay, Johnson hasn't closed the door on the galaxy far, far away. “If I get back in the Star Wars universe someday, I’d be the happiest person,” he said.

With Wake Up Dead Man—the third and final film in Johnson’s current Knives Out deal—slated for 2025, the director’s calendar may soon clear. Meanwhile, Star Wars has evolved.

Creatives like Tony Gilroy (Andor) have proven there’s space for more grounded, mature storytelling within the franchise.

Lucasfilm may be more open than ever to auteur-driven visions that diverge from traditional fan service. If that’s the case, Johnson’s return could be perfectly timed.

For now, it’s still a waiting game. But for those who appreciated the bold risks of The Last Jedi, the hope of Johnson’s return remains strong in the Force.