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J.J. Abrams To Direct And Co-Write 'Star Wars: Episode IX'
J. J. Abrams speaking at San Diego Comic-Con International. (Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons)
J.J. Abrams will be returning to the Star Wars director's chair, replacing the recently fired Colin Trevorrow at the helm of Star Wars: Episode IX. The news was announced in a statement from the franchise on Tuesday morning.
J.J. Abrams to write and direct Star Wars Episode IX. https://t.co/aVF8UWaK0e pic.twitter.com/YrjgZZNxUx
— Star Wars (@starwars) September 12, 2017
Among many other things on his near astronomical list of credits, Abrams previously directed and co-wrote Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, the first installment in the current sequel trilogy. Episode IX will be the final installment in the trilogy, and Abrams will co-write it with Chris Terrio (Justice League, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Argo).
“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 a statement Tuesday.
Variety reports that the previous director Trevorrow and Lucasfilm "could not see eye-to-eye in regards to the script... and decided to part ways before getting further along in pre-production." The plan was originally to begin production in February 2018, though that date will now likely be moved further back.
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