The lure of the Force has proven strong once more. Award-winning director J.J. Abrams, who helmed The Force Awakens, has signed on to direct the upcoming Star Wars Episode IX.
Abrams’ appointment on the film was announced shortly after news broke that the film’s original director, Colin Trevorrow, had departed the project in early September. “With The Force Awakens, J.J. delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy.”
The appointment comes with a slight delay to the fi lm’s release date. Originally planned for May 24 2019, it has now been nudged back to a December 20 release slot—in line with the Christmas release of both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Abrams will co-write the film’s script with screenwriter Chris Terrio, previously best known for the award-winning Argo (2012). It’s perhaps not a surprise that Abrams has returned to the Star Wars galaxy. The director has previously stated that he regretted not directing the follow up to The Force Awakens, and he reportedly told his close friend (and Snap Wexley actor) Greg Grunberg that the script for Johnson’s film was, “So good, I wish I were making it!”
Abrams has a long and storied career, particularly in science fiction. He began in television with teen drama Felicity (1998—2003), followed by the SF-tinged spy series Alias (2001—2006), and the paranormal mystery Fringe (2008—2013). His biggest TV success, however, was Lost (2004— 2010). The story of the survivors of an air-crash finding themselves on a mysterious island, it lasted for six intriguing seasons.
At the same time, Abrams was pursuing a feature film career. He made his directorial debut with the hit Mission: Impossible III (2006), produced monster movie Cloverfield (2008), and successfully rebooted Star Trek (2009) into a blockbuster film franchise. He also directed the 1980s-inflected Super 8 (2011) before returning to Captain Kirk and co. with Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).
He also has an impressive string of producer credits to his name. The so-far-untitled Episode IX will begin shooting in 2018.
Pilots of the future! J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy.