​Could 'Star Wars: IX' include scenes filmed in space?
Director Colin Trevorrow's moonshot request could push Hollywood to a new frontier.
February 11, 2016, 10:39 a.m.
"Star Wars: Episode IX" will include scenes shot in space — that is if director Colin Trevorrow gets his way. During a panel at the Sundance Film Festival, Trevorrow, who helmed the 2015 blockbuster "Jurassic World" said he's exploring the idea of shooting scenes for the 2019 film in space.
According to Business Insider, Trevorrow put out his request to the powers that be. "I asked the question, 'Is it possible for us to shoot IMAX film plates in actual space for 'Star Wars?'' and I haven't gotten an answer yet." The "Star Wars" films have shot all over the world, so perhaps space the next logical location.
It turns out that Trevorrow isn't the first director with the desire to shoot off-planet. Christopher Nolan, who was on the same panel with Trevorrow, mentioned that he'd toyed with the idea when working on "Interstellar."
Pushing the limits to tell space stories is not a recent fascination among filmmakers. For 1995's "Apollo 13," Ron Howard had a lunar module set created inside a Boeing KC-135, also known as NASA's "Vomit Comet." The aircraft allowed filmmakers to capture actors' performances during 23-second intervals of weightlessness.
The desire for filming in space goes beyond the movie studios. In 2008, Richard Garriot, a video game mogul and self-funded astronaut, filmed the 8-minute "Apogee of Fear" while on board the International Space Station. It was the first film to be shot in space.
If Trevorrow's wishes are granted by Disney (and space agency authorities), "Star Wars" fans will be treated to a new visual experience with the third installment of the rebooted series. Due to backlash from the prequels, "The Force Awakens" took care not to overuse special effects. BB-8, for example, was portrayed with practical effects with his handlers using a variety of puppets. In keeping with the new tradition of making the new "Star Wars" films "feel real," as J.J. Abrams put it, filming in space could provide an authentic cinematic experience without the distraction of post-production wizardry.
Also, the planets we've seen in the "Star Wars" film canon all boast Earth-like gravity and atmospheres. Could filming in space open up new worlds to the creative minds at Lucasfilm? Since the plot for the film has not been disclosed, and "Episode VIII" will come out before Trevorrow's installment, it's up to "Star Wars" fans to imagine what Rey and BB-8 might encounter in microgravity.