Director Colin Trevorrow, who made an impressive debut with 'Safety Not Guaranteed' and went on to direct the second-biggest successful film of 2015, 'Jurassic World,' will also take on distant galaxies in Star Wars: Episode IX. Trevorrow revealed the importance of understanding the perspective of children while dealing with films like 'Star Wars.'
In an interview with Fandango, on June 12, Trevorrow, while promoting his latest thriller drama 'The Book of Henry' talked about his approach on Star Wars: Episode IX. He said it was important to understand what kids feel about the characters introduced in 'The Force Awakens;' whether they feel empowered by what they see on screen.
"Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia were all characters that we were able to identify with in various ways, and especially with the character of Rey and what she means to young girls right now, and the challenges that she's up against," Trevorrow said. Heroes of big-scale blockbusters have the potential to create a huge impact on children. The responsibility of the nature of that impact rests on the filmmakers.
"It is extremely crucial that I understand what actual children are feeling about these stories that we're telling them, and I think it's important that I have kids, and if filmmakers don't have kids, they should go talk to them because they don't see things the same way that we did when we were kids. So, yes, I am very dialled in to that because I think it's a requisite of the job," Trevorrow added.
Trevorrow also revealed how his four-year old daughter was influenced by watching 'Wonder Woman' directed by filmmaker Patty Jenkins. "She had a very profound reaction to it. We thought it was a little long for her, and we weren't sure if she was going to be a part of this, but she came out and was like, 'I'm going to want to watch that every day, and I am Wonder Woman now.' It was pretty stunning to see it happen. It's important, that movie. It really is," Trevorrow said.
Trevorrow was also asked on his plans to make a film that's better and more memorable than 'Return of the Jedi' which is considered to be the worst film in the original Star Wars trilogy. "My hope is to make it as richly satisfying as it could possibly be. I have a lot of support, and a lot of really brilliant thinkers and storytellers around me. Kiri Hart and the Lucasfilm story group, and Michelle Rejwan, and Kathy Kennedy, my producers, and J.J. [Abrams] and Rian [Johnson], and Larry Kasdan, and when you look at this army of brilliant people that we have, it's not me alone. It's a whole team," he said.
Star Wars: Episode IX will also be the concluding chapter in the sequel trilogy. In fact, many fans who were not pleased with his direction in 'Jurassic World' wanted his removal as director of episode IX. Such protests and demands of his ouster have since died down. Trevorrow's latest film, 'The Book of Henry' has been earning a lot of praise from those that have seen it. Many say the film is an eye-opener, especially regarding issues that we come across but often ignore.
Speaking of 'The Book of Henry,' Trevorrow said, "There's a scene where Henry is reading in bed with his mom, and he asks her why she didn't do something to stop this violence that they saw in a grocery store. She says, 'Well, you know, there's nothing I could do.' His answer is, 'Apathy is the worst thing in the world, not helping people who need our help.'
"I think at this moment [in our world] we feel so much anger every day, and the world just feels like it's falling apart around us and burning down, and that very childlike sense of responsibility to help others really, really connected with me. That's definitely my favourite moment. Hopefully it encapsulates what the movie is trying to say." Trevorrow said.
'The Book of Henry' releases on June 16 in the US. Star Wars: Episode IX is set for release on May 24, 2019.
