David Fincher Discussed Directing Star Wars: Episode IX

"You'd have to really be sure this is what you wanted to do."

By Brian Barnett

Filmmaker David Fincher said he discussed directing Star Wars: Episode IX and turned it down.

Known for movies like Fight Club, Seven and Gone Girl, Fincher shared his thoughts in an interview with Empire. As someone who considered directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens before J.J. Abrams took the job, he was asked if he had any desire to take on Episode IX.

"No," Fincher said. "I talked to [Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy] about that and, look, it's a plum assignment. I don't know what's worse — being George Lucas on the set of the first one, where everybody's going 'Alderaan? What the hell is this?', where everyone's making fun of these, you know, 'Tattooine? Is it Tattoine? Is that how you pronounce that?'

"I'm sure that was an excruciating year for a third-time director, but I can't imagine the kind of intestinal fortitude one would have to have following up the success of these last two [Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]. That's a whole other level."

Thinking about helming a Star Wars film, Fincher didn't make the decision lightly. "You'd have to really be sure this is what you wanted to do," he said. "Because either way it's two years of your life, 14 hours a day, seven days a week. There's no getting around it."

Jurassic World filmmaker Colin Trevorrow was originally set to direct Star Wars: Episode IX. But last month Trevorrow and Lucasfilm parted ways, and Abrams came on board a week later.

Star Wars: Episode IX also got a new release date and will now arrive December 20, 2019.

Brian Barnett is an IGN Freelancer. He is a little disappointed he won't get to see a Fincher Star Wars movie, but he'll be in the theater for Episode IX regardless! You can follow Brian on Twitter @Ribnax.

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