The Star Wars franchise has had a tough time finding filmmakers to helm their latest installments without running into creative differences with the studio. So far, Josh Trank, Colin Trevorrow, Phil Lord and Chris Miller have all been removed from films centered in the Star Wars universe.
However, if there’s one name that handle the intense fan pressure and studio creative direction for a legacy sci-fi film franchise, it’s J.J. Abrams. The filmmaker, who directed and co-wrote the acclaimed The Force Awakens, has just signed on to write and direct Star Wars Episode IX.
In a statement, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said, “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.”
Episode IX is scheduled to hit theaters in May of 2019.
