The 'Selma' helmer would 'just kill it,' says the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' director when asked about potential female writer or director he'd like to see working on a 'Star Wars' feature.
- December 10, 2015
AceShowbiz -
J.J. Abrams revealed he would want to see Ava DuVernay to helm a "Star Wars" movie. Speaking to Nerdist's Dan Casey, the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director was asked about potential female writer or director he would like to see working on a "Star Wars" feature.
"To me, the knee-jerk reaction if I had to [name someone] is Ava DuVernay, who I think would just kill it," Abrams said, "She is as much a fan of genre movies, and hearing her talk about not just 'Star Wars', but hearing her talk about those kinds of films is evidence that she would just kill it."
He continued, "When you look at her work in 'Selma', which was as well-told and as sophisticated and humane a film as I think has come out in the last decade, if she can do that story that well, there's no question she would kill this movie."
On Wednesday, December 9, DuVernay responded to Abrams' comments on Twitter. "The force is strong with this one. Xo," she wrote alongside a link to an article about the 'Star Wars' helmer's interview.
The force is strong with this one. xo https://t.co/FivfnY3Mud
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) December 9, 2015The current line-up of future "Star Wars" directors is all-male. Gareth Edwards was tapped to direct "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue One, set to be released in 2016, Rian Johnson was chosen to helm "Star Wars Episode VIII" for a 2017 release and Colin Trevorrow is the director of "Star Wars Episode IX" for a 2019 release.
There is also an untitled stand-alone Star Wars film II focusing on Han Solo scheduled for 2018 helmed by the team of Christopher Miller and Phil Lord.
DuVernay had previously been tapped to direct 2018's "Black Panther" for Marvel, but later turned down the project due to creative differences.
