As a fan who has followed Justin Simien‘s journey through his groundbreaking works like “Dear White People” and the promising “Star Wars: Lando,” I can’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for his recent heartache. The loss of a project that was so close to his heart, after investing so much time, effort, and passion into it, is truly akin to losing a child, as he aptly described.
Justin Simien shares his feelings of sorrow following Disney’s choice to cancel his Star Wars: Lando television show.
As a dedicated fan, I’ve got some disappointing news to share. Just recently, the filmmaker shared with Collider that our much-anticipated project hit a roadblock, despite making significant strides in its development. Reminiscing about it, he said, “It was quite developed indeed.” There was a detailed script, concept art, and even a Bible (a comprehensive outline of the story). But unfortunately, it seems destined not to come to fruition.
The director of the Haunted Mansion found this project deeply affecting: “For me, it requires facing the truth. It’s genuine sorrow. I haven’t had children or lost them, but I believe that’s what such pain might feel like. You put so much of your feelings and energy into a project, but in the end, you can’t decide whether it thrives or fades away, and this process is indeed a grieving experience.”
Nevertheless, Simien explained how his coping mechanisms were instrumental in propelling him forward, and that the demise of the project served to strengthen him further.
“He expressed, ‘I must express my feelings honestly, such as ‘I’m grieving. I don’t feel well.’ It’s crucial for me to acknowledge these emotions. The experiences I have are something I carry with me permanently and use in future projects. I can’t transfer the narrative, intellectual property, or characters, but there’s so much more that I’ve gained as a creator, which is uniquely mine. I’m sorry, but you can’t reclaim that aspect once it’s been created.'”
Following Simien’s departure from the project, it was disclosed later on that brothers Donald Glover and Stephen Glover were collaborating to write the script and convert it into a film. Notably, Donald is slated to star in this production as well. In 2018, he portrayed Lando Calrissian in the movie “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
Before Simien left and the Glover brothers made their announcement, the creator of “Dear White People” expressed doubt to The Hollywood Reporter in July 2023 regarding the potential continuation of the “Star Wars” project.
“Previously, I was informed that they appreciated the project but had to pause it until they could coordinate everyone’s schedules. Since then, I haven’t delved deeper, but I’m not oblivious. Many creators have gone through similar situations. However, I can’t help but ponder if perhaps my race or sexual orientation might be a factor. It appears that projects I create with these companies often stall for unexplained reasons.”
In other news, just as one opportunity might end, another seems to be arising. Last month, it became public knowledge that Ava DuVernay’s production company, Simien, is working on a fresh live-action Star Trek series for Paramount+, with Tawny Newsome involved.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-04 06:54