J.J. Abrams, the man responsible for bringing new life back into the Star Wars Universe, will be replacing the recently departed Colin Trevorrow as writer/director of Star Wars Episode IX. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy released the following statement:
“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.”
Trevorrow and Lucasfilm recently parted ways after what is being called creative differences, though scathing reviews of his film The Book of Henry certainly did not help. Lucasfilm just can not keep a director. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were replaced by Ron Howard on the upcoming Han Solo film, and Gareth Edwards was replaced by Tony Gilroy for Rogue One’s reshoots.
Star Wars Episode IX is scheduled for release May 24, 2019.