WhenJ.J. Abramssigned on to directStar Wars: The Force Awakens, many assumed that he was taking the helm for the whole trilogy, includingStar Wars: Episode VIIIandStar Wars: Episode IX. That all changed last year when it was reported thatRian Johnsonis taking over as writer and director onStar Wars: Episode VIII. But a report from earlier this year claimed thatJ.J. Abramswas considering coming back to directStar Wars: Episode IX. As is the case with manyStar Warsrumors, it turns out that report is untrue as well. Here’s what the director had to say, when asked byEntertainment Weeklyif he is taking the helm onStar Wars: Episode IX.
“No, I’m not going to directEpisode IX, as much as I am deeply envious of anyone who gets to work with this group of people on the future movies.”
Another rumor surfaced last month that Disney and LucasFilm are eyeingJurassic WorldfilmmakerColin Trevorrowto direct, but that report has never been confirmed.J.J. Abramsdid reveal that both he andStar Wars: The Force Awakensco-writerLawrence Kasdanhave mapped out story arcs for bothStar Wars: Episode VIIIandStar Wars: Episode IX, and he will essentially be a “presence and an influence” on those stories, without crafting them himself. Here’s what the director had to say about the directionRian Johnsonhas taken theStar Wars: Episode VIIIstory.
“It’s a thrill to see [Johnson] take things and elevate them beyond what we had imagined at the time.”
Another vital part of theStar Warsfilmmaking machine is producer and LucasFilm presidentKathleen Kennedy. The producer reiterated that they do have the story for all three movies mapped out, while adding thatRian Johnson’s script forStar Wars: Episode VIIIis “100 percent him.” Here’s what she had to say about how far they have the story planned out in advance.
“We know where we’re going, but only in the broadest sense. WhenRiancame in and started writing his script, he started from scratch, other than knowing what we had done in Episode VII and projecting out where it was going. He then sat down and put pen to paper, and it’s 100 percent him.”
Star Wars: Episode IXisn’t expected to hit theaters until 2019, but there will be plenty ofStar Warsstories for fans to enjoy between now and then. AfterStar Wars: The Force Awakenshits theaters in December,Star Wars Anthology: Rogue Onewill arrive nearly one year later, in December 2016.Star Wars: Episode VIIIwill debut in May 2017, followed by theStar Wars Anthology: Han Solo Moviein May 2018 andStar Wars: Episode IXin 2019. If that wasn’t enough, there are also a slew of new books coming from Del Rey, Marvel, and several other companies, with the first wave arriving September 4, not to mention the return ofStar Wars Rebelsthis fall. Do you hopeJ.J. Abramschanges his mind and comes back to directStar Wars: Episode IX?
