Rian Johnson addresses The Last Jedi backlash, says necessary for Star Wars to 'grow'

Rian Johnson has heard the fans’ complaints about The Last Jedi — and it turns out it doesn’t bother him that his film is sparking so many conversations.

In response to a fan asking whether he thought it was a good thing The Last Jedi has been so polarizing among audiences, Johnson wrote in a tweet, “The goal is never to divide or make people upset, but I do think the conversations that are happening were going to have to happen at some point if sw is going to grow, move forward, and stay vital.”

The Last Jedi has been a hit with critics and at the box office, earning rave reviews that have declared the film the best entry in the franchise since Empire Strikes Back. It also scored the second highest opening of all time (behind The Force Awakens), raking in $220 million at the box office in its first weekend. And early numbers suggest it won’t slow down anytime soon.

Still, in spite of that, the film has proved divisive online among fans, with many railing against the film’s depiction of Luke Skywalker, aspects of the Force, and other subplots. Many have chalked up the polarizing response to internet trolls, particularly racism and sexism against a film that displays a wide range of female leadership and heroic actions from a diverse cast.