J.J. Abrams Returns to Star Wars to Write and Direct Star Wars: Episode IX

After the exit of Star Wars: Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow, many fans have been speculating who would complete the latest saga and direct the trilogy’s final film.

This morning Starwars.com announced the return of The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams. Abrams will take over both writing and directing responsibilities.

J.J. Abrams, who launched a new era of Star Wars with The Force Awakens in 2015, is returning to complete the sequel trilogy as writer and director of Star Wars: Episode IX. Abrams will co-write the film with Chris Terrio.

Why Trevorrow is Out

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Trevorrow left the project over the writing of the script, and with Abrams and Terrio taking over, Jack Thorne is out as well.

According to sources, Trevorrow exited the project after issues with the script persisted throughout development, with the director taking multiple stabs at different drafts. Eventually, he and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy’s working relationship had become unmanageable.

Jack Thorne, the British scribe who wrote the upcoming Julia Roberts-Jacob Tremblay movie Wonder, was tapped to work on the script for the movie, which is the supposed end to the Skywalker Saga.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has not been shy about making decisions when it comes to the new Star Wars films. She previously replaced Gareth Edwards on reshoots for Rogue One that reshot 40% of the film, and most recently replaced Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as directors on the untitled Han Solo film. If nothing else, Kennedy knows when she wants and is willing to make the hard choices to get it.

Lucasfilm and Abrams

“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,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

Abrams’ The Force Awakens was successful financially and in that it brought droves of new fans into the Star Wars universe. We can only hope Episode IX is just as effective.