Disney finally announced the new director that will replace Colin Trevorrow in “Star Wars: Episode 9." “The Force Awakens” filmmaker Jj Abrams will be handling the making of the new film installment after “The Last Jedi.”
There were earlier reports that Rian Johnson might direct the sequel trilogy’s final chapter, but Deadline reported that he refused the offer. Johnson would like to put his focus on “The Last Jedi” as it is soon to be finished and ready for release. Therefore, Disney and Lucasfilm are said to be courting Abrams to do the movie instead.
The official statement
Abrams is the one who started the sequel trilogy in 2015 with “The Force Awakens,” which earned 2.06 billion worldwide gross and became the third highest-grossing movie of all time. Therefore, it is not a surprise that Disney and Lucasfilm want him to do another film for the franchise.
In fact, some sources told Deadline that the two companies are working out a deal to assure his return. Now, the deal has come to fruition. In an official statement released on Starwars.com, Abrams is going to complete the sequel trilogy as “Episode 9” writer and director. He will be co-writing the film with Chris Terrio.
“With ‘The Force Awakens,’ J.J. delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy,” Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in the announcement.
The result of Trevorrow's exit
Abrams has been in a number of discussions to take Trevorrow’s place as “Star Wars: Episode 9” director. To recall, Trevorrow quit directing the movie following creative differences with Lucasfilm and its president Kennedy.
This happened after Phil Lord and Chris Miller also left their directorial seats in the “Han Solo” spinoff movie.
They were replaced by Ron Howard.
Abrams has produced television series like “Westworld," the web series “Castle Rock,” a Stephen King anthology series, and the movie “Mission: Impossible 6” coming in July 2018.
However, the change of director has affected the movie’s production. With that, fans will need to wait a little longer before they finally see the last installment hit the big screen.
“Episode 9” will be six months delayed from its original May 29, 2019, release. The film is now set to air on Dec. 20 of the same year. There are even claims that the movie is now in the fourth version of its script as Carrie Fisher’s death had a major impact on the movie.
