No one is irreplaceable in Hollywood including directors

Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'. Photo: Walt Disney Studios

Film has long been considered a director’s medium, with cinematic auteurs presiding over movie sets like gods. But as high-profile directors are being replaced on big-budget projects with increasing regularity, some say film is fast becoming more of a board-of-directors’ medium, especially in the critical realm of the franchise.

This new reality was underscored recently when Colin Trevorrow was suddenly dropped from Star Wars: Episode IX because of creative differences and Lucasfilm announced that J.J. Abrams, who directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens, would take the helm.