Next Star Wars Movie Gets a Familiar Guiding Hand

JJ Abrams is returning to direct another
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 12, 2017 10:50 AM CDT
Next Star Wars Movie Gets a Familiar Guiding Hand
JJ Abrams is taking another turn at "Star Wars."   (Christopher Smith)

JJ Abrams is returning to Star Wars and will replace Colin Trevorrow as writer and director of Episode IX. Disney announced the move Tuesday, per the AP. After several high-profile exits by previous Star Wars directors, Lucasfilm is turning to the filmmaker who helped resurrect the franchise in the first place. Abrams will co-write the film with screenwriter Chris Terrio, who won an Oscar for adapting Argo. As the director of The Force Awakens, Abrams rebooted Star Wars to glowing reviews from fans and more than $2 billion in box office.

Abrams had said that would be his only film for the franchise, but he's now been pulled back in. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said Abrams "delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for" on The Force Awakens, adding, "I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy." Star Wars: Episode IX is expected to hit theaters in May 2019. (More JJ Abrams stories.)

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