Following on from the great success he enjoyed with the first chapter in the new trilogy of Star Wars movies, J.J. Abrams is set to return to the franchise for the ninth film in the series, which is currently scheduled for release in 2019.
Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was attached to the project, but he left the movie, which he had been actively developing over at Lucasfilm, this past week. As well as taking the directing reigns on the high-profile project, Abrams will also co-write the screenplay 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 an official statement released to the press.
Episode 9, which does not yet have an official title, will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Abrams, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm.
The news of Abrams’ placement as director comes following a report that the new sequel was offered to Star Wars: The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson to return for the final instalment in the current trilogy. It appears that either that was not the case, or he turned the opportunity down.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh film in the multiple-decade series, directed by Abrams, is the third highest-grossing film of all time (behind Avatar and Titanic) with $2.06 billion in worldwide takings since its release back in the winter of 2015.
As well as all of the box-office takings, there’s also the hoards of merchandise an licensing deals associated with the film – it’s a pretty big deal for Lucasfilm that they get things right. The brand is used on toys, games, online casino bonus games, board games, LEGO sets and so much more. We’re glad that the new movie is in safe hands.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released in cinemas on December 15th 2017, with the next sequel due in May 2019. The film will see the return of
In between, we’ll have the in-production Star Wars Han Solo movie, which is being directed by Ron Howard after co-directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord left the project back in the summer. That movie will be completed soon and then due in cinemas next May.
We’ll obviously keep you up to date with any further developments in the story, and any further Star Wars related news as it comes our way.
