When ‘The Last Jedi’ Met ‘The Disaster Artist’

Chris Tilly
Movies Star Wars
Movies Star Wars

This article is basically just an excuse to post the following YouTube clip. But with both The Last Jedi and The Disaster Artist hitting screens worldwide in December, we’re also going to take a look at just who the two titular characters are. And what they (kinda) have in common.

But first, that amazing vid…

Who is The Last Jedi?

Luke Skywalker is The Last Jedi, as writer-director Rian Johnson so succinctly states in this marvellous Tweet.

But how did it come to this? Our resident Star Wars expert Brandon Rea explored the issue in an article entitled How Luke Skywalker Became The Last Jedi. But if you want the recent history that put him in such a position, the story is as follows…

Following the events of Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker decided to pass his Force knowledge onto a new generation, and so set up a Jedi Temple with new apprentices. One of whom was Ben Solo, his nephew, and son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

However, Supreme Leader Snoke — leader of the villainous First Order — also saw potential in the young Solo. He turned him to the dark side, with Ben taking on the name Kylo Ren, and killing the new generation of Jedi.

This messed Luke up, so much so that he hot-tailed it to Ahch-To, home of the first Jedi temple. And porgs. There he has lived a life of solitude — porgs aside — knowing only one truth. “It’s time for the Jedi to end.”

Then Rey shows up, setting the wheels in motion for his return in the forthcoming movie.

Who is The Disaster Artist?

Tommy Wiseau as Tommy Wiseau.

‘The Disaster Artist’ is Tommy Wiseau, actor, writer, director, and international man of mystery. In 2003, Wiseau — who claims to be from New Orleans, but speaks with a thick Eastern European accent — sunk millions of his own dollars into The Room, an independent drama about a doomed love triangle. Which he wrote, directed, and starred in.

The film was horrible, and flopped at the time. But word soon started to circulate that it was the worst movie ever, and a cult gradually began to build around The Room. The film’s reputation grew through the years, and it now plays in cinemas all over the globe, with audiences flocking to see Wiseau’s baffling brand of moviemaking.

It also spawned a book called The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, by Wiseau’s friend and co-star Greg Sestero, which documented the bizarre behind-the-scenes story. James Franco fell in love with both the film and the book, and decided to make a movie about the making of The Room.

Franco gathered together an amazing cast, including Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Bryan Cranston, Alison Brie, Adam Scott and Kristen Bell. Not forgetting Tommy Wiseau, who also managed to bag himself a cameo.

The film received rave reviews when it debuted at SXSW, while our own Drew Dietsch called it “hilarious and heartfelt” in his review.

Are There Similarities Between The Last Jedi and The Disaster Artist?

We could claim that both stories are examples of pride and hubris destroying a hero. With that hero then triumphing over the adversary that followed. But it would be balderdash. Truthfully, we’ve written this article so we’ve got an excuse to post that awesome mash-up.

So re-watch the video, then book your tickets to both movies at your earliest convenience.

The Disaster Artist is currently showing, while Star Wars: The Last Jedi hit U.K. screens on December 14 and opens in the U.S. on December 15.

Chris Tilly
Freelance writer. At this point my life is a combination of 1980s horror movies, Crystal Palace football matches, and episodes of I'm Alan Partridge. The first series. When he was in the travel tavern. Not the one after.