Brad Bird Talks The Incredibles 2 and Star Wars: Episode VI
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird recently opened up about the prospect of directing a sequel to his 2004 animated hit The Incredibles. While he addressed the possibility of a follow-up back in December 2011, the filmmaker seems more keen on making the sequel now.
"I have been thinking about it. People think that I have not been, but I have. Because I love those characters and love that world. I am stroking my chin and scratching my head. I have many, many elements that I think would work really well in another [Incredibles] film, and if I can get 'em to click all together, I would probably wanna do that. I like the idea of moving a little more quickly in films. I'm looking for ways to accelerate the pace a little bit and figure out a way to keep creative control over these movies to a level where I'm comfortable with the end result but also speed them up a bit and make more of them. I have many different films I wanna make. It's like a big airplane hangar and I have different projects on the floor; half-assembled in my brain. I'm interested in all of them. You kind of have to move on the ones people are willing to pay for and the ones you're most excited about."
The filmmaker was also one of the early names mentioned as a possible candidate to direct Star Wars: Episode VII, before he revealed in November that he was not interested in the job. He revealed that the schedule LucasFilm had in mind was what ultimately turned him off of the highly-anticipated project.
"I've known (producer) Kathy (Kennedy) for a while and I know George (Lucas). And they did come to me. But the problem was, the schedule they had in mind made it impossible to do...unless I dropped Tomorrowland. And I was just really deeply into this film at that point. It's easy to say, 'Just put it on hold.' But you're moving now; you don't know if you're going to be able to move later. Maybe it's true of filmmakers like (James) Cameron or (Steven) Spielberg, but I have to act on momentum. We had reached a critical mass where it would've thrown the furniture around from the train stopping. I really want to see this movie. I love the Star Wars films, and I can't wait to see what J.J. (Abrams) does, but it meant I'd have to shut down one dream to participate in another. I feel like [with Tomorrowland] we're making something that's really special and unique."
Disney has slated Tomorrowland for release on December 19, 2014. George Clooney and Hugh Laurie are attached to star, with Damon Lindelof writing the screenplay.
The Incredibles was released November 5th, 2004 and stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Dominique Louis, Teddy Newton, Jean Sincere, Eli Fucile. The film is directed by Brad Bird.
Star Wars: Episode VII comes to theaters in 2015 and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
