Filmmakers react to Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ takeover

Many of today's biggest directors owe their careers to George Lucas, and it's not a stretch to say that the majority of them would probably point to "Star Wars" as the reason they make movies.

With the memory of the awful prequels still fresh in many people's minds, it's easy to forget how groundbreaking and influential Lucas' original "Star Wars" trilogy actually was. The 1977 space opera blockbuster and its two sequels set countless kids on the path toward filmmaking careers, whether it was the special effects, visual effects, music, editing, cinematography, directing, or in front of the camera as actors.

When Disney revealed they would be buying LucasFilm — George Lucas' massive multimedia empire and the owners of properties like "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" — for a whopping $4.05 billion, and that they planned to make a new "Star Wars" trilogy, the news seemed to take everyone by surprise, Hollywood included. Over the past few days, some of Tinsel Town's top talent weighed in on the sale and the future of "a galaxy far, far away..." in the hands of Disney.

"The idea of another trilogy that further shrouds the Force in mystery as its secrets are lost to time — that's extremely compelling," "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau told Entertainment Weekly. "I want so bad for it to be good. Can you imagine?"

Unlike Favreau, Movie and TV impresario J. J. Abrams seemed a little more hesitant about the idea of new "Star Wars" movies.

"Part of me? Thrilled. Part of me? Terrified. Most of me? Thrillified," the "Star Trek" director told EW. Abrams helped to revive that struggling "Star Trek" sci-fi franchise back in 2009, and because of that success many have touted him as a potential director for the "Star Wars" sequels Disney is planning.

See also: What will 'Star Wars Episode 7' be about?

Directors and longtime "Star Wars" fans Kevin Smith ("Chasing Amy," "Red State") and Robert Rodriguez ("Sin City," "Machete"), on the other hand, were far less ambiguous than Abrams.

"I'm all for it. Can't wait to see all the new movies they're gonna make," Smith said on his Facebook page. "The 7 year old Kev who saw 'Star Wars' during its initial release in 1977 is finally gonna get all 9 'Star Wars' movies he was promised back then. I'll be first in line to pay for whatever they do."

"What an amazing world and legacy George Lucas has created — and it needs to continue in capable hands." Rodriguez told EW. "I do think Disney is the best studio for the job and the fact that they brought in Kathleen Kennedy? I can't imagine a better scenario."

Kennedy, a long time film producer, is the current president of LucasFilm and a person with a great deal of respect in Hollywood circles. When referring to "Star Wars Episode 7's" impending 2015 release date, Rodriguez stated that it simply "can't get here fast enough."

On Twitter, filmmaker James Gunn ("Super," "Guardians of the Galaxy") joked that the Disney takeover of "Star Wars" means that fans can expect to see much more of a much-maligned prequel character.

"So excited for the new Star Wars films! First up, three Jar Jar movies, taking us through 2019, and then the Dash Rendar trilogy! Whoo hoo!" he tweeted.

Given that "Episode 7" will likely take place well after the prequel and original trilogies, a Jar Jar Binks cameo will thankfully be unlikely, though die hard "Star Wars" fans might be keen on seeing popular expanded universe character Dash Rendar make an appearance in the new trilogy.

See also: What does Disney's takeover of Lucasfilm mean for the Marvel universe?

Still no word on the big deal from Disney's new favourite son, "Avengers" director Joss Whedon. Another avowed fan of Lucas' sci-fi saga, the imprint of "Star Wars" is easy to see on almost everything Whedon has ever produced. The second that news of more "Star Wars" movies broke, fans all over the internet immediately began rooting for Whedon to get the directing job.

Granted, Whedon's success with "The Avengers" has certainly put him in Disney's good books, but he's clearly already got a full plate with the cinematic Marvel Comics universe. Adding "Star Wars" to his busy schedule would likely interfere with Disney's ambitious plans for their superhero movies.

"Star Wars Episode 7" is scheduled for release some time in 2015.