The game of directorial musical chairs in the Star Wars universe continues: J.J. Abrams has signed on to helm the upcoming installment, Star Wars: Episode IX. Abrams’ return to the franchise was announced just one week after news broke that Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was departing the project. As Lucasfilm explained in a statement last week, “Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ.”
Abrams will direct and co-write the third installment of the sequel trilogy, produced in conjunction with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, StarWars.com reports. This follows his work as writer, director and producer of 2015’s The Force Awakens. He is also credited as an executive producer on the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is directed by Rian Johnson.
“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,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.
This news follows another director switch-up on the Han Solo spinoff movie: Lego Movie directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller stepped away from their roles on that film back in June, and have since been replaced by Academy Award winner Ron Howard.
- LeBron James Could Take Pickleball—Yes, Pickleball—to the Next Level
- It's Going to Be a Lot More Expensive to Heat Your Home This Winter. Here's What To Expect
- The U.S. Might Be the Surprising Determining Factor in the Future of Armenia
- Rapper Saucy Santana Is Opening a Door For His Community
- Here are the Biggest Moments from the TIME100 Leadership Forum and Impact Awards in Singapore
- Column: Russia Wants to Lock Ukraine Back in the Soviet Cellar
- As the Kanjuruhan Tragedy Shows, Indonesia Has Not Resolved Its Long-Standing Problem of Soccer Violence
- Here's Everything New on Netflix in October 2022
- A New Documentary Series Illuminates the History and Evolution of Queer Horror
