Director Takashi Yamazaki is riding an unexpected wave of success with Godzilla Minus One. Expectations were high for the film, but no one predicted it would become an international hit that would receive an Oscar nomination. Whether it wins or not remains to be seen, but realistically the nod is an achievement in and of itself – and in the scheme of things, beside the point.
Yamazaki’s future in filmmaking is wide open on both sides of the Pacific, but he knows what he wants his next move to be. The 59-year-old made it known he wants a crack at one of his favorite movie franchises of all time: Star Wars. “I watched Star Wars and that’s how I ended up being a filmmaker,” he said to Slashfilm late last year. “I’m really hoping I will get a call and they will bring me [onto] Star Wars.”
A month later, he screened the blockbuster Minus One for Lucasfilm. August Ragone, a Twitter/X user who was in attendance, wrote (via That Park Place), “Great Godzilla Minus One screening tonite at Lucasfilm. Was introduced to director Yamazaki after the Q&A. He was also gracious enough to sign my copy of the [Japanese] theater program. A Godzillian thanks to Ken Ibrahim & Dave Filoni!”
Nearly every filmmaker and film buff today is one because of Star Wars, and many likewise would love to do something in that world, however small. The problem is, which anyone who’s followed the series over the last decade or more could tell you, now is the worst time to be involved with Lucasfilm.
Mr. H Reviews over on YouTube is one onlooker and analyst who believes Yamazaki will get more than he bargained for. The YouTuber posed the question, “Has Lucasfilm found its next victim to hire and fire?” in a recent news vlog about this prospect for Yamazaki.
While Mr. H sees Yamazaki could be a good fit for Star Wars, if he is given the money and freedom to make it good, he predicts the director will be set up for failure. “Timing matters,” he said. “There are some individuals that are pretty decent filmmakers that have gone to Lucas film and… nothing’s happened or they were fired or the project that they did make was garbage.”
He adds, “Just because they got one person in, you know, doesn’t fill me with confidence and joy… I think this is Lucasfilm and [Kathleen] Kennedy lining up their next victim, their next patsy – not Patty, not Patty Jenkins, but their next patsy – their someone they can blame stuff on.”
Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins was once attached to direct a Rogue Squadron movie, which was such a big deal that she starred in a teaser that showed her getting into an X-wing. However, the project stopped being a priority to the point that, sources say, it’s no longer in active development.
Yamazaki could fall into the same trap or, as Mr. H observes, the complex human story the filmmaker wants could be watered down into something “ham-fisted” or worse. “If there is any company that has earned the right not to have the benefit of your doubt, it’s Lucasfilm and Disney,” said Mr. H.
If you agree or don’t, we’d love to know what you think. Write us a response down in the comments.