In their pursuit of harnessing the spirit of the original trilogy, Disney and Lucasfilm laid out a resilient mission statement with last month’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in particular, the film’s handling of practical effects. That’s a philosophy that looks set to be a permanent fixture all across the rejuvenated universe, but just how far are the directors willing to go?
Quite far, it seems. During a storytelling panel at Sundance, Star Wars: Episode IX helmer Colin Trevorrow spoke about his desire to shoot IMAX scenes for the sci-fi sequel in space, and has seemingly pitched the ambitious concept to Disney and Lucasfilm.
[zerg]Joined by IMAX and film advocate Christopher Nolan, the Jurassic World filmmaker began by revealing that he plans to shoot Episode IX using film – in stark contrast to Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is set to utilize the large-format Alexa 65 digital camera for the vast majority of scenes.
For Trevorrow’s contribution to the Star Wars universe, though, he’s contemplating a way to film select scenes from the numbered sequel in space: “I haven’t gotten an answer yet, but they’ve shot IMAX in space.” It’s by no means a confirmation, but the very fact that Trevorrow has tabled the prospect is exciting in and of itself. After all, he did hint at the “endless and boundless” nature of the IP before.
How and ever, such a bold proposition would inevitably mean the House of Mouse collaborating with NASA in order to bring Trevorrow’s embryonic vision to life. Unlikely, sure, but you can’t knock the director for dreaming big.
Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Episode IX is currently penciled in for a release at some point in 2019. Judging by Disney’s recently reshuffled slate, a December release would appear likely, which is the same corridor Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will slot into later this year on December 16.
