Joe Johnston

Made films the shows talk about.

Wikidata Q352948: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by Wikidata joins them to Captain America: The First Avenger, which Captain America: The First Avenger credits them on.

Counted as craft. The films the hosts said they worked on, which the two lists below run through too: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977). Count them as director (4 films) instead.

Draws on

What the speakers say they, or a film of theirs, drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

Dune (1984): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Dune ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). The Dune book's messaging is credited as one of the things that inspired Star Wars.
    “And not only that, the messaging of this is one of the things that inspired Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 0:22:22 · John Hodgman (0.70 sure it was them)
  2. theme (theme) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Dune ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Dune's Fremen/revolution material is the denser source that Star Wars abstracts; the Force is Dune without the drugs.
    “the Force in Star Wars is like doom without the drugs.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:17:01 · David Sims (0.30 sure it was them)

Dave Toschi: 1 line

  1. unmapped (namesake) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Dave Toschi ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Star Wars has a Tosche station, named after Dave Toschi.
    “It does. named after Dave Kosk.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:39:12 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Seven Samurai (1954): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Seven Samurai ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Mallory notes Lucas drew on Joseph Campbell, Seven Samurai, and Hidden Fortress, and the cycle of influence is now returning in Mulan.
    “Obviously, Joseph Campbell, as mentioned a moment ago. 7 Samurai, Hidden Fortress.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:46:32 · Mallory Rubin (0.85 sure it was them)

The Hidden Fortress (1958): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): The Hidden Fortress ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Mallory lists Hidden Fortress among Lucas's influences.
    “7 Samurai, Hidden Fortress.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:46:32 · Mallory Rubin (0.85 sure it was them)

Drawn on by

What the speakers say drew on them or a film of theirs, marked the same way.

Dune (1984): 2 lines

  1. programming (programming) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Dune (the host's read). Dune was positioned and released as the studio's answer to Star Wars, the next big space epic.
    “Uh, this movie is released with the energy of, here you go, here's the new Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 0:22:17 · John Hodgman (0.85 sure it was them)
  2. unmapped (tentpole hope) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Dune (the host's read). Dune was meant to be the new Star Wars franchise, Lynch writing the sequel, coloring books on shelves.
    “I thought it was going to be the Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Starman with Katey Rich · 2:18:09 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (the host's read). The Force Awakens maps almost exactly onto A New Hope.
    “Force Awakens, which will maybe come up later on this podcast is in almost every respect.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 0:24:06 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (the host's read). It ports over Death Star, Tatooine and R2-D2 as Starkiller Base, Jakku and BB-8.
    “in place of the Death Star, you have star killer base.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 1:24:09 · Mallory Rubin (0.50 sure it was them)

Alien (1979): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Alien (the host's read). In Star Wars' wake came Alien and Blade Runner rather than more 4-color space operas.
    “the Star Wars Halo effect are like alien.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:13:21 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Arthur C. Clarke: 1 line

  1. lineage (why the sequel got written) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Arthur C. Clarke (the host's read). The speaker thinks the post-Star Wars sci-fi rush is what kickstarted Clarke finally writing the follow-up.
    “I mean, I'm realizing the other thing that probably kickstarted Arthur C. Clark finally writing the follow-up novel is the mad post-Star Wars sci-fi brush of like, oh, now Star Trek, the motion picture is getting made.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2010: The Year We Make Contact · 0:22:43 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Battlestar Galactica: 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Battlestar Galactica (the host's read). Star Wars' direct influence landed more on television, e.g. Battlestar Galactica.
    “And of course, on television, you had Battlestar Galactic.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:14:15 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Flash Gordon (1980): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Flash Gordon (the host's read). Flash Gordon and The Last Starfighter are a grounded-in-reality category of post-Star Wars space movies.
    “Flash Gordon, I want to put as this category of things like Last Starfighter, like the Masters.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:13:54 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

George Lucas: 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ George Lucas (the host's read). Lucas's Star Wars deal (giving up salary for merch and control) enabled the Raiders deal of owning the negative.
    “he gives up his salary and his points as a director on Star Wars to retain the control and the merch.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 1:01:43 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

James Bond films (the franchise): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ James Bond films (the franchise) (the host's read). Star Wars pushed Bond into outer space.
    “James Bond went to went to the moon because of Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:55:07 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Masters of the Universe (2026): 1 line

  1. lineage (origin) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Masters of the Universe (the host's read). He-Man (and the 80s toy boom) was a response to every company having passed on Star Wars merchandising.
    “so much of He-Man and the 80s for toys is a response to every major company passing on Star Wars that Star Wars is the whiff that no one can live down.”
    The Big Picture · The Top 10 Fantasy Films, The Toy Movie Hall of Fame, and ‘Masters of the Universe,’ with Griffin Newman! · 0:23:25 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the host's read). Star Trek the Motion Picture happened because Star Wars scooped the studio.
    “Like Star Wars scooped our ass.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:12:22 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they worked on as designer (Boba Fett): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (the host's read). A second, bigger Death Star is called a lateral remake of the first.
    “We're kind of, it's like a lateral remake.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Return of the Jedi · 0:04:32 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

What the speakers said they did

Directing (5) everyone in directing

Craft (1) everyone in craft

What was said about them, by kind

career (1)

  1. career (career): Joe Johnston → The Wolfman. Cap was a comeback for Johnston after the calamity of The Wolfman.
    “This was a real, like, comeback for Joe Johnson, because this was after the calamity of Wolfman.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 0:50:27 · David Sims (0.45 sure it was them)

craft (1)

  1. craft (craft): Joe Johnston → Captain America: The First Avenger. Johnston is a Disney guy, so the 40s-to-60s retro-futurism (flying car, Expo) suits him.
    “Johnston is such a Disney guy.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 0:21:29 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

people (1)

  1. people (people): Joe Johnston → The Iron Giant. The hosts list Johnston's earlier work in passing: the Boba Fett design and, they seem to mean, The Iron Giant (not actually his; the transcript is muddled).
    “Designed Boba Fett.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 0:14:05 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

verdict (1)

  1. verdict (verdict): Captain America: The First Avenger → Joe Johnston. Great film but a generic final act, a shame since Johnston suits the material.
    “Which is genuinely too bad because Joe Johnson is so suited to it.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:49:19 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

what-if (1)

  1. what-if (what-if): Joe Johnston → Louis Leterrier. Leterrier wanted to direct Cap and Marvel brushed him off.
    “Did you know that Louis Letierrier was like, I want to direct this movie and Marvel was like, ha, ha, ha.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 2:04:38 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Fun items about them

None.