While Rian Johnson has been basking in the success of his latest film, Knives Out, he hasn’t escaped the shadow of Star Wars. Now that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in theaters, many fans have begun re-litigating Johnson’s efforts in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That film polarized audiences, especially when it came to Luke Skywalker. Several viewers took issue with Johnson’s decision to turn the original trilogy’s hero into a jaded hermit. Now, Johnson is once again addressing his detractors on social media.
Johnson was responding to a fan who felt Luke’s change in character makes his “hero’s journey” in earlier films meaningless. You can check out what he had to say via Twitter below.
Gil, I understand that point of view but I completely disagree with it. In fact I think it disrespects the character of Luke by treating him not as a true mythic hero overcoming recurring wounds & flaws, but as a video game character who has achieved a binary, permanent power-up.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) December 20, 2019
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Some fans may never get on board with Rian’s portrayal of Luke. Regardless, The Last Jedi was critically acclaimed when it hit theaters. In fact, critics found his subversion of expectations to be one of the film’s many high points. Conversely, The Rise of Skywalker is currently earning mixed reviews from critics and higher audience scores than The Last Jedi.
What do you make of Johnson’s defense of Luke’s depiction in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
