Star Wars has fans from all over the world, and among them is a Japanese director making waves in American audiences. Takashi Yamazaki’s new installment in the Godzilla series, Godzilla Minus One, is getting rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. Having successfully helmed Japan’s premiere franchise, the director next eyes one of the biggest IPs in the world, Star Wars.
Yamazaki is hopeful about receiving a call from Lucasfilm, providing him the opportunity to bring his unique vision to George Lucas’ universe. Given Yamazaki’s impressive visual work in Godzilla Minus One, it would be wise for Kathleen Kennedy to pick up that phone and give him a call.
Godzilla Minus One Director Wants To Helm A Star Wars Project
Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One stands as the 37th film in the Godzilla franchise and the fifth in the franchise’s Reiwa era. Yamazaki, also a visual effects supervisor, was selected to direct the Japanese kaiju film following his success with the historical film, The Great War of Archimedes. The film was produced on a reported budget of $15 million and grossed $25 million at the Japanese box office.
In an interview with SlashFilm, Yamazaki expressed his interest in making a Star Wars film. He revealed that the epic space franchise was his inspiration to become a filmmaker. Yamazaki shared that he was hoping to get a call from Lucasfilm to direct one of their future films. Yamazaki also added that he envisions a Japanese or Eastern take on Star Wars. He shared with SlashFilm:
“I watched Star Wars, and that’s how I ended up being a filmmaker. I’m really hoping I will get a call and they will bring me on Star Wars… I think a more Japanese or even just Eastern take on Star Wars, would be really, really interesting, so I hope they call me up.”
Yamazaki’s proficiency in visual effects positions him as a strong candidate, addressing an area where the Star Wars universe is lacking currently. Moreover, Yamazaki created a visual marvel with a modest $15 million budget for Godzilla Minus One, and he could achieve more with Lucasfilm’s resources. Yamazaki’s Japanese take will capture the audience’s attention, especially considering the success of Lucasfilm’s previous collaboration with Japanese artists in Star Wars: Visions.
Star Wars Owes A Lot To Japanese Cinema
Takashi Yamazaki’s Japanese take on Star Wars will complete a full circle, as the original franchise by George Lucas drew significant inspiration from Japanese cinema. If Yamazaki’s cinematic journey began with Star Wars, Lucas’ foray into the galaxy far, far away was influenced by Akira Kurosawa’s films. The first Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, incorporated elements from Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress.
Lucas even approached the Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, a regular in Kurosawa’s films, to play Darth Vader. In addition, Kurosawa’s 1980 film Kagemusha, produced by Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, served as an inspiration for one of the episodes of The Clone Wars. Kurosawa’s magnum opus, The Seven Samurai, influenced the episode, Sanctuary, in the first season of The Mandalorian.
The time has come for Kathleen Kennedy to acknowledge this debt and consider hiring Takashi Yamazaki. But she can give Godzilla Minus One a watch before making that call, which is now running successfully in American theaters.
