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Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have been a critical and commercial success when it released back in 2016, however, not all fans enjoyed Rian Johnson’s Star Wars entry. Traditional fans didn’t quite enjoy the film’s attempts at subverting fan expectations. Nor were they pleased by how the film turned their benevolent Luke Skywalker (Luke Skywalker) into a jaded old hermit hiding away in Ahch-To. Ever since The Last Jedi’s release, this vocal minority has been bashing the film, lashing out at the cast and crew because of their grievances over the movie.
However, Yoda voice actor and puppeteer Frank Oz feels quite differently about the film, and the Star Wars legend continues to stand by Rian Johnson and The Last Jedi. Speaking in an SWSX event at the Austin Convention Center (via Indie Wire), Oz reminds fans critical of The Last Jedi that filmmakers don’t just make movies to fulfill the fanbase’s expectations.
“I love the movie. All the people who don’t like this ‘Jedi’ thing is just horse crap. It’s about expectations. The movie didn’t fill their expectations. But as filmmakers, we’re not here to fulfill people’s expectations,” Oz told guests present at his panel during the event.
Though this might irritate fans who want Star Wars films to go their way, Yoda does have a pretty good point here. What kind of story would filmmakers be able to tell if they just pandered to the fanbase? Little nods here and there are fine, but at the end of the day, a director’s goal is to be able to tell a successful story. And in many ways, The Last Jedi succeeded. Not only did it bring the franchise to new heights and new places, but it also expanded Star Wars’ concept of the Force.
Lucasfilm’s next Star Wars entry, Star Wars: Episode IX, is set for release December 20, 2019.
