abiCredit: Lucasfilm
Rian Johnson is responsible for crafting one of the most polarizing Star Wars movies, The Last Jedi. Eight years after the movie’s theatrical release, Johnson is addressing the criticism surrounding The Last Jedi and whether it pushed him away from Star Wars.
What did Rian Johnson say about The Last Jedi criticism?
Johnson recently participated in an interview at the Newport Beach Film Festival. During the conversation, Johnson discussed The Last Jedi and the split reaction between critics and fans.
Johnson was also hired to write and direct a separate Star Wars trilogy. However, the Knives Out filmmaker has not worked with Lucasfilm since The Last Jedi. Did the divisive response push him away from the Star Wars universe?
“No, not at all,” Johnson said via Star Wars Culture. “In fact, it’s the reason that I wanted to. My overall experience with putting the movie out, and what you’re talking about with fan feedback. I mean, first of all, I’m a lifelong Star Wars fan. So I know the deal. I know that Star Wars fans are passionate about this stuff. We love the stuff we love, we hate the stuff we hate, and we fight about it. And that’s been happening since the original trilogy.”
Writer/Director @rianjohnson Discusses #StarWars: #TheLastJedi At The Newport Beach Film Festival ? pic.twitter.com/MvJX46xpFl— Star Wars Culture (@SWCultureLive) November 5, 2025
Johnson mentioned how the Star Wars prequels also divided fans upon their release. The differing opinions are what make Star Wars special.
“The reality is Star Wars has always been something that has meant different things to different people,” Johnson explained. “And I think that’s part of the fun and the passion of it as fans, is arguing about it respectfully.”
Released in 2017, Star Wars: The Last Jedi garnered critical acclaim from most critics. However, the fan reaction ranged from significant praise to brash criticism. Regardless of fans’ opinions, Johnson is grateful to have made the movie.
“It’s been the most positive experience I’ve ever had with anything I’ve made, in terms of interacting with people who’ve seen it,” Johnson added. “I came out at the other end of it loving Star Wars fandom more than I did even going into it.”
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is streaming on Disney+.
