Meet Star Wars’ new hope

How director Deborah Chow went from indie/tv gigs to getting the keys to Star Wars

DEBORAH CHOW IS suddenly a huge deal. The first female director to take on Star Wars, she’s helming the upcoming Disney+ Obi-wan live-action series, plus an episode of The

Mandalorian. But the filmmaker has been working steadily for over a decade.

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING (2010)

Chow’s breakout indie melodrama film doesn’t necessarily mark an obvious trajectory towards a Star Wars TV show, but it does show her latent and versatile talent as a director. Starring Zach Braff, it won Best Canadian First Feature at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival.

MR. ROBOT (2015) ‘EPS1.5_BR4VE-TRAVE1ER.ASF’

Chow’s direction on the Rami Malekstarring thriller series compounds a dark twist with the decision to simply let the camera linger with an agonising long take. It’s the kind of keen visual sensibility that would make for a fascinating fit with Star Wars.

JESSICA JONES (2018) ‘AKA GOD BLESS THE HOBO’

Chow truly punctured the season’s “13-hour movie” format that hamstrung the Marvel/ Netflix shows, choosing to focus on Jessica’s court-mandated anger management classes instead. Once more, Chow balanced the human and the fantastic with grace.

BETTER CALL SAUL (2018) ‘SOMETHING STUPID’

Bringing distinctive visual flair to a series already known for it, Chow’s De Palma-esque, split-screen cold open in this episode of the Breaking Bad spin-off offers a stunning moment that hangs over the hour, showcasing her penchant for haunting visual storytelling.