John Landis criticizes Lucasfilm for firing “talented guys”

Legendary filmmaker John Landis (An American Werewolf in London and Animal House) recently criticized Marvel films and now the director has some strong words to say about Lucasfilm. Landis told Collider that “it’s very worrying” how the studio behind Star Wars keeps “firing talented guys”:

“I have many things that I’m working on, whether or not they’ll ever become real, I don’t know. You know Joe Dante and myself and a few other guys I know are in the same position. They’re not hiring people who have opinions. They think, ‘He knows what he’s doing, I’m not hiring him!’ Look at Star Wars. They keep firing guys. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, those guys are really talented. They’re really funny and original guys. They shot 75% of the movie and I gotta tell you, it doesn’t speak well for the new Lucasfilm. How many directors have they fired? Four. How many writers? Twelve. It’s very worrying. Remember when George Lucas said that he felt like he sold his kids into white slavery? Well…”

Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired from the Han Solo spin-off, replaced by Ron Howard respectively. And now more recently, Colin Trevorrow has departed Star Wars 9, with JJ Abrams taking over the helm:

J.J. Abrams to write and direct Star Wars Episode IX. https://t.co/aVF8UWaK0e pic.twitter.com/YrjgZZNxUx

— Star Wars (@starwars) September 12, 2017

What are your thoughts on Landis’ comments, do you agree with him? Next up in the Star Wars galaxy is The Last Jedi, which opens on December 15.