Justin Simien Recalls ‘Grief’ Over Scrapped Star Wars: Lando Series

Justin Simien is opening up concerning the grief he felt after Disney’s choice to scrap his Star Wars: Lando collection.

The filmmaker not too long ago informed Collider that the undertaking was shelved regardless of reaching a major stage within the improvement course of. “It was fairly developed,” Simien recalled. “Yeah, there was a Bible, there was idea artwork, there have been scripts, nevertheless it simply wasn’t meant to be.” 

This took an emotional toll on the Haunted Mansion director: “For me, the reply is that it’s important to actually face it. It’s true grief. I’ve by no means had a baby, I’ve by no means misplaced a baby, nevertheless it’s what I think about that ache is likely to be like. You pour a lot of your coronary heart and soul into one thing, however finally, you don’t have management over whether or not it lives or dies, and it’s a true grieving course of.”

Nevertheless, Simien shared that his coping system was finally what helped him transfer ahead, and that the lack of the undertaking solely made him stronger.

“For me, it needs to be performed fairly straight on like, ‘I’m in grief. I don’t really feel good.’ I’ve to let myself really feel these emotions,” he added. “There’s a lot that I expertise that I get to maintain endlessly and take into the following undertaking. I can’t clearly take the storyline or the IP or the characters, however there’s a lot extra that I received, as a maker, and that’s mine. Sorry, it’s too late, you may’t take that half again.”

After Simien exited the undertaking, it was later revealed that brothers Donald Glover and Stephen Glover have been teaming as much as pen the script in addition to flip it right into a film. Donald, who can also be set to star within the function, beforehand performed Lando Calrissian in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Previous to Simien’s departure and the Glover brother’s announcement, the Pricey White Individuals creator informed The Hollywood Reporter in July 2023 that he was unsure concerning the Star Wars undertaking’s future.

“The very last thing I used to be informed was that they beloved it however wanted to place a pin in it till they may determine everyone’s availability,” Simien stated on the time. “I haven’t investigated additional, however I’m not an fool. I’m not alone in that have. However I can’t assist however marvel, ‘Am I too Black? Am I too queer? And other people simply don’t need to say that?’ As a result of it looks as if I develop issues with these corporations and so they simply by no means occur for causes unknown.”

However when one door closes, one other one opens. It was revealed final month that Simien is growing a brand new live-action Star Trek collection for Paramount+ with Tawny Newsome.