Disney and Lucasfilm still haven’t tipped their hand in their search for a “Star Wars: Episode VII” director; however, it has been revealed that the studios want at least one familiar face to return to the franchise in poster artist Drew Struzan.
Struzan has been responsible for the franchise’s poster art since the beginning, and, try as he might to stay retired, he may be around to assume those duties for the next trilogy of films. In a recent interview with Fanhattan, Struzan revealed that Disney has already contacted him to gauge his interest in the project.
After revealing this, he jokingly noted that he’s trying his best to stay retired and that he’s spent “35 years painting Star Wars,” which is longer than many fans of the franchise have been born. And while he confirms that the offer is on the table, he’s hesitant to commit to the gig and says “there’s no intention” since he would like to have a day off every now and then.
However, he does leave the door open by noting that “there’s always a chance” that it would be “a real temptation” to take the job. Struzan goes on to insist that it would have be extremely tempting, though, to pull him away from his family, as he now prefers to spend more time with “the green trees and the blue skies” instead of being “locked in the studio.”
His last words on the subject keep the door cracked, as he says “all things are possible” and that he’ll “never say never.
Whether or not Struzan comes aboard or not, this is still a good sign that Disney and Lucasfilm are respecting the franchise legacy. Not only is Struzan one of the most revered poster artists of all time, but his work is also synonymous with “Star Wars.” Hopefully, the studios will be able to lure him back so fans will be greeted by some familiar sights once the posters make their way into theater lobbies in a couple of years.
