Director Rian Johnson helmed the second installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi. However, the film proved to be extremely divisive, especially because of its plot and handling of legacy characters. Nonetheless, some fans continue to enjoy the movie because it deconstructs some of the franchise’s biggest tropes.
During an interview, Johnson opened up about the inspiration behind the film, particularly outside of the franchise. In the process, Johnson revealed one nearly sixty-year-old Japanese film, which inspired the movie. Here is what Johnson had to say about taking inspiration from the decades-old film, particularly for the lightsaber scenes in The Last Jedi.
Rian Johnson Admitted Star Wars: The Last Jedi Was Inspired by Three Outlaw Samurai
Star Wars: The Last Jedi, is the eighth entry in the Skywalker saga and the second installment in the sequel trilogy. The film was directed by Rian Johnson, known for his Knives Out franchise films. Ahead of the film’s release, Johnson sat down for a conversation with Empire, wherein he was asked about the movies that inspired The Last Jedi.
Three Outlaw Samurai for the feel of the sword-fighting, and the general sense of pulpy fun.
Johnson made the above statement, citing the 1964 Japanese film as a source of inspiration for his Star Wars movie. The director’s comment also hinted that the film influenced the lightsaber duels in The Last Jedi.
Given that Three Outlaw Samurai falls in the Japanese subgenre of “Chambara,” also known as sword-fighting, it is easy to understand why Johnson cited it as an influence. Since franchise creator George Lucas was himself inspired by Japanese samurai films, it makes even more sense that Johnson turned to the subgenre for inspiration.
Rian Johnson Revealed the Biggest Surprise of Directing a Star Wars Movie
During the same interview, Johnson was asked about his overall experience of making a Star Wars movie. Johnson was also questioned about the aspect he found the most surprising about the experience. In response, Johnson stated:
I guess the biggest surprise was the intimacy of the process. It’s huge, sure, and it’s filled with pressures great and small.
Johnson suggested that given the large scope and fantastical nature of the space opera saga, he was surprised that telling a heartfelt story still mattered the most while crafting a Star Wars movie.
The Last Jedi was released on December 15, 2017, and received generally mixed reviews from fans and critics. The film’s treatment and characterization of Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, remains the most debated topic from the movie. It managed to gross $1.334 billion, nearly half the $2.071 billion collection of its predecessor, proving divisive on almost every metric.
The Star Wars movies, including The Last Jedi, are streaming on Disney+.
