JJ Abrams Will Write and Direct Star Wars: Episode IX
By Kieran Dickson September 12, 2017
The last year or so of Star Wars filmmaking has been an absolute rollercoaster for fans, and not necessarily in a good way. Following the extensive reshoots of Rogue One: A Star War Wars Story, a series of reshuffles saw two other movies in the franchise losing their directors. First off, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller departed their Han Solo movie, with Ron Howard coming in to replace the pair. Then, earlier this month, Colin Trevorrow parted ways with LucasFilm and left his role as director of Star Wars: Episode IX.
The questions surrounding who would replace Trevorrow as director of what will arguably be the most high profile Star Wars movie in years were, understandably, setting the Internet alight. But, just as they did with the Han Solo movie shuffle, LucasFilm hasn’t left us waiting long for an answer. In a statement posted to StarWars.com today, the studio revealed that JJ Abrams would not only be returning to direct Episode IX, but he was also going to be writing it.
“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’s President, Kathleen Kennedy.
It’s hard to argue with Lucasfilm’s reasoning here. With The Force Awakens, Abrams delivered a movie that won over the majority of fans and critics, and delivered staggering results at the box office in the process. But, saying this is just a safe bet wouldn’t be doing the situation justice. The Last Jedi‘s director Rian Johnson, who had been linked with the Episode IX job, had worked with Abrams to ensure a smooth narrative and tonal transition between The Force Awakens and its sequel. Now, it would seem, the pair will get to swap notes once more as the gatekeepers to what might end up being the biggest box office trilogy ever made.
‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Originally Had a Different Ending — and It Actually Screened in Theaters
If you consider yourself a Star Wars buff, then you probably think you know everything there is to know about The Empire Strikes Back. The second film in the series is widely considered to be the best of the franchise, and with the movie celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, you’d think there wouldn’t...
George Miller Shares Details on the Next ‘Mad Max’ Movie
If you’re like most people and thought that the best thing about Mad Max: Fury Road was Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, then you’re in luck, because a Furiosa prequel is officially slated to be the next installment in the franchise. Director George Miller recently shared some new details about the upcoming film, and it sounds...
‘Avatar 2’ Set Photo Teases Insane Underwater Motion Capture
Avatar 2 has been talked about for so long that it sounds like a pipe dream at this point, but it is actually a real film that’s in the process of being made. As proof of that fact, the film’s official Twitter account has gifted us a photo from the set of the movie, and...
Michael Bay Is Producing a Pandemic Thriller That Will Film in Quarantine
Michael Bay is not a filmmaker who’s known for his subtlety. The explosion connoisseur is the brains behind such bombastic cinematic showcases as Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Transformers movies, and now he’s about to unleash what could be his most insane movie yet. Bay is set to produce a new horror-thriller based...