J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode IX
Abrams helped revive the Star Wars film franchise with 2015's Force Awakens, which earned more than $2 billion worldwide.
The deal is done. Disney and Lucasfilm confirm J.J. Abrams will co-write and direct Episode IX in place of the the recently departed Colin Trevorrow.
In a statement released on StarWars.com, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced J.J.'s return: “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.”
This announcement comes shortly after September 5th's press release stating Lucasfilm and Trevorrow mutually parted ways. But according to THR sources, Trevorrow exited the project after script issues resulted with the director taking multiple stabs at different drafts. Eventually, he and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy's working relationship had become unmanageable.
Abrams will co-write the film with Chris Terrio. Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Abrams, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm.
