Star Wars: Episode IX will see the return of JJ Abrams as director.
It is official: Disney confirmed with Deadline that Abrams will be returning to the helm to direct the forthcoming Star Wars: Episode IX movie.
The announcement comes after Rian Johnson (Last Jedi) decided against the offer to come back and replace Colin Trevorrow (Jurrasic World), who himself recently stepped down from the director’s chair of the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode IX.
Disney was in talks with Abrams shortly after Johnson decided to leave the project. Abrams first took on the Star Wars property back in 2015 with the release of Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
The Force Awakens marked the beginning of a new trilogy of Star Wars films. Episode VII took place 30 years after the end of Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The story followed the adventures of Finn, a soldier who defected from the First Order — a remnant faction of the Empire lead by the evil Kylo Ren.
Gleaning information from the available trailers, it looks like the Last Jedi will focus on Rey’s quest in mastering the Force thanks to her training with the Legendary Luke Skywalker — now a recluse living on the island-like planet of Ahch-To.
Fans have been scratching their heads over the meaning behind the title of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, specifically in regards to a line spoken in the trailer by Luke Skywalker.
In the trailer, Luke Skywalker says, “It is time for the Jedi to end,” which currently has people investigating whether the word Jedi itself is singular or plural. Many fans agree that the word is plural, which if true, may spell the very end of the Jedi itself in the movie.
For now, all fans can do is speculate and eagerly await the anticipated release of both the Last Jedi, which is scheduled to come out this Holiday season and the eventual release of Star Wars: Episode IX sometime in 2018.
