The Force Awakens filmmaker JJ Abrams will return to a galaxy far, far away to replace Colin Trevorrow as the director of Star Wars: Episode IX.
Trevorrow, who made Jurassic World, parted company with the film last week.
Abrams will co-write the film with Chris Terrio, as well as serving as director.
J.J. Abrams to write and direct Star Wars Episode IX. https://t.co/aVF8UWaK0e pic.twitter.com/YrjgZZNxUx
— Star Wars (@starwars) September 12, 2017
Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, said: “With The Force Awakens, JJ delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy.”
Abrams delivered a huge box office success with Episode VII The Force Awakens in 2015.
Episode VIII The Last Jedi, which will be released in cinemas on December 14, was directed by Rian Johnson.
Huge thanks to the lovely crowd at D23 today, felt so much love and support in that room. Can't wait for December! pic.twitter.com/TCnsbcI8za
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) July 15, 2017
Trevorrow’s departure from the franchise came just months after Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were replaced as directors of the Han Solo spin-off movie by veteran filmmaker Ron Howard.
Working on Saturday here in the Galaxy pic.twitter.com/eIx9SBjycA
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) September 9, 2017
That film, which is still untitled, is due for release in May 2018.