Director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy) tells Playlist that he was approached about Episode VII:
“We got one phone call to my agent saying, ‘Is Guillermo interested?’ And basically I have so much stuff already of my own, and I’m pursuing stuff that I’m generating already…” he said, explaining that he ultimately turned it down.
With numerous directing, producing and writing projects in the works, Del Toro made it clear that his own slate is full enough to keep him occupied, but he was still pleased to be approached. “It was very flattering,” he said, adding: “It was just a phone call, it didn’t go past that, it was very nice to be asked, but believe it or not, I’m busy enough.”
He also said he would have loved to see Brad Bird tackle the film. (via)
These articles need to read “Guillermo Del Toro Turned Down a Meeting with Lucasfilm.” A company asking you to interview is not the same as offering you the job. All the articles hitting now read as if he was offered the job.
Turning down the meeting is turning down the job point blank. There isn’t a whole lot of gray area here.
Headlines should be concise without misleading. Dunc did a perfect job with the title/headline of this article. It gives the point and in the post is the specifics.
Man turned down discussing it, he’s turned down the job.
Huh. It would have been interesting to see his take on Star Wars, just as I’ll always regret never seeing his take on The Hobbit. Maybe for the best, though…I love DelToro, but his films tend to either be hugely frantic of precisely lyrical, neither of which are things that I ever think of Star Wars being.
I think he would have brought us back to a much more practical Star Wars, though. At least in terms of visual effects.
Worst… career… decision… ever…
As much as I like Pan’s Labyrinth, there’s nothing like Star Wars for a director to gain immortality. I mean, who nowadays would care about Kershner if not for ESB.
Yeah, but in the end a) it’s one man’s fairly specific vision – even if Lucas is only on the sidelines for these, they still have to keep things somewhat consistent with the older films, which gives a director somewhat less freedom. This isn’t like superheros, where by the age and collaborative nature of the medium there are dozens of different ways to go.
And b) It’s a lot to live up to and if it doesn’t work, the backlash is tremendous.
I honestly can’t blame anyone for turning it down.
Dom: Bond fans, mostly. Dude directed Never Say Never Again.