The cinematic galaxy was shaken when last Friday the site Deadline and other outlets shared information about the person directing the second chapter in the new Star Wars Trilogy. According to the -yet unconfirmed- reports,Lucasfilm/Disney has chosen Rian Johnson to direct and write “Star Wars: Episode VIII.” This is very interesting because many believed that J.J. Abrams was probably going to helm the three main films, leaving the other stand-alone entries to less experienced filmmakers like the announced Josh Trank and Gareth Edwards. Instead, this saga will follow the “Harry Potter” route.

Johnson and myself at the 2013 SBIFF.

Johnson and myself at the 2013 Santa Barbara Film Festival.

After his fantastic time-travel action thriller “Looper,” it was obvious that Rian Johnson was part of a crop of talented young directors capable of bringing to the big screen a Star Wars movie, alongside Neill Blomkamp, Duncan Jones, Matt Reeves, Rupert Wyatt, and the two previously mentioned Trank and Ewards. But I was expecting him to get the third independent installment, not “one of the big ones.” Besides his latest movie with Bruce Willis and his friend Joseph Gordon Levitt (I would bet that he will be offered a part in Episode VIII), “Brick” and “The Brothers Bloom” were well received but not commercial hits.

To me this proves that the studio is as confident with the Star Wars brand as the Marvel one. They feel that they don’t need a more recognizable director like Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, Alfonso Cuarón, or Guillermo Del Toro behind all the new main episodes. I had have the chance to interact with Johnson a couple of times and he is not only extremely knowledgeable and professional but a very open and approachable guy.

Take a look at his past work in the trailers below.