With the release and success of the John Wick film franchise, director Chad Stahelski cemented his status as one of the top directors in Hollywood, especially in the action genre. While that franchise lives on via spinoffs and a possible fifth installment, Stahelski is already setting his sights on other franchises, including Star Wars.
During a recent Happy Sad Confused podcast appearance, Stahelski opened up to Josh Horowitz on other franchises he’d love to take a shot at. He confessed his love for the Star Wars franchise and called Disney to give him a chance at the franchise.
The former stuntman said, “Everyone’s got their thing, right? Like I’m a Star Wars guy, like the first Star Wars changed my life. Maybe someday out there, Disney, if you’re listening… hit me in a couple of years, and I have a couple of takes for Star Wars.”
When Horowitz asked if Stahelski has story ideas for the franchise, he replied in the affirmative and reiterated his call for Disney to give him a crack at the franchise.
The Stahelski-helmed John Wick franchise has achieved massive success over four films and nine years, collectively grossing over $1 billion on a budget of about $250 million. The films have also consistently received positive critical ratings, with special praise for their action sequences.
Given Stahelski’s credentials as an action director, on display in the John Wick franchise, we don’t doubt that he’ll make a great director for the Star Wars franchise. Even better, it’s possible that his unique directorial style, influenced by his stuntman background, will make fans return to the franchise after the colossal disaster that was Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Despite his interest and the potential benefits for both parties, we doubt such a partnership will happen anytime soon. Stahelski’s success with the John Wick movies has come with a lot of demand for his skills.
Currently, he is attached to three Netflix projects – Ghost of Tsushima, Black Samurai, and Rainbow Six – as both director and producer. In an update in November, he revealed that Ghost of Tsushima’s script is ready and production is set to begin. He is also working on a remake of the 1986 cult classic Highlander with Henry Cavill set to feature.
Unless Stahelski drops out of one or more of these projects, we doubt he will have the time to direct a Star Wars movie anytime in the near future. But then, helming a Star Wars project is many directors’ dream and something reserved only for the elite, not to mention the likelihood of a massive paycheck, so it’s not farfetched to think he could drop out of his other projects for it.
Regardless of what happens, and whether he directs a Star Wars project or not, Stahelski fans have a lot to look forward to from the visionary director.
