He may have tackled the treacherous depths of the jungle, but Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’s director Jake Kasdan doesn’t want to helm a Star Wars movie.

Resurrecting a beloved piece of ’90s nostalgia to bring Jumanji back to theaters was no mean feat for Kasdan; however, he did it. Ironically rivaling Star Wars: The Last Jedi for the 2017 box office crown, Welcome to the Jungle was a surprise hit that has already guaranteed Jumanji 3 thanks to Kasdan somehow making the long-forgotten series relevant again. However, while he is now assured the pick of the directing crop after the success of Welcome to the Jungle, Kasdan revealed that there is one job he definitely isn’t looking at.

Speaking to Business Insider, the 43-year-old said that he didn’t want to ruin the magic by heading behind the scenes of a Star Wars movie to sit in the director’s chair:

Interestingly, the name Kasdan is something of a big deal in Star Wars circles. For those who don’t know, Jake’s father Lawrence has been helping Star Wars for decades, having co-written The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Also, adding to the pressure of the name, Lawrence was recently joined by Jake’s brother Jon to assist in writing Solo. Some might expect that Jake would continue the family’s legacy and have a hand in the long-running franchise, but it sounds like it just isn’t meant to be.

“I’m just a huge fan. There’s a part of me that feels like you relinquish that when you step behind the curtain. I love the rooting position I’ve been in with the ones that my dad and now my brother have worked on. It’s a really exciting thing to be near, without the pressure and anxiety of carrying it.”

Alongside the likes of a Bond Movie, an MCU or DCEU entry, directing Star Wars is seen as a big step for any director, but it isn’t for everyone. With Ron Howard, J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson, and Jon Favreau all continuing to take that galaxy far, far away into a whole new chapter, the chance to join them for one of the many upcoming Star Wars projects is a job that many would kill for. However, putting his fandom before his paycheck, you have to admire Kasdan’s honesty.

While Jake says he is out for now, who is to say what the future holds? After working tirelessly since first directing Zero Effect in 1998, his other work includes TV’s Freaks and Geeks and movies like Bad Teacher and Sex Tape. However, it is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle that has really shot him to stardom. While his father and brother may have their foot firmly in the door with Star Wars, at least Jake seems set on making even more of a name for himself by rolling the dice another time and continuing to take Jumanji in its own direction.

More: The Biggest Sony Franchises That Could Go Up For Sale

Source: Business Insider

  • Han Solo Release Date: 2018-05-25 Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Release Date: 2019-12-20