Huge, huge news on theStar Warsfront today – there has been a ton of speculation about who might take over the final film in the new trilogy sinceColin Trevorrowwas reportedleaving the project. Many thought thatRian Johnson, director of the upcomingThe Last Jedi, might also take overEpisode IX(though Deadline reports hedidn’t want the job), or that Disney might use this change-up as an opportunity to add a woman or POC to the director’s chair. But if you know anything about Hollywood you should know that it doesn’t like to take chances, so the natural choice was for Disney and Lucasfilm to go with someone they have worked with on this scale before:J.J. Abrams.
A statement from Disney and Lucasfilm today posted on StarWars.com reads:
There are sure to be many, many opinions on Abrams returning to helm the final installment of this trilogy (and writing it), so let us know what you are thinking in the comments. Are you happy with a safe choice like Abrams after the success ofThe Force Awakens? Do you wish that Disney and Lucasfilm had chosen some new blood instead? Are you wondering why Rian Johnson passed over the offer? (My personal speculation is that it’s just such a massively intensive process that it might have killed him to have kept going with it for another few years). Let us know your thoughts, and we’ll update you if and when we know more.
