J.J. Abrams made it clear that he wasn’t particularly happy about having to leave his family behind in Los Angeles to shoot Star Wars Episode VII in the UK, so that could explain why Disney has now turned to Breaking Bad and Looper director Rian Johnson for 2017’s Star Wars Episode VIII.
Oh, and the fact that he’s an exceptional filmmaker can’t have hurt either!
Deadline broke the news this evening that Johnson has been tapped to write and direct Episode VIII, adding that he will do the same for Episode IX. However, sites like The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap have since fired back with claims that Johnson will in fact only write the treatment for IX.
The official Star Wars website has been quick to issue press releases after news like this has dropped, so we’ll likely know Johnson’s full involvement sooner rather than later.
Though the director (who has become synonymous with some of Breaking Bad’s greatest episodes as well as his unique and critically acclaimed movies) is likely signed up for Star Wars Episode VIII, it could just be that Disney and LucasFilm will wait to see how that comes together before signing Johnson up for IX too.
Either way, a big Star Wars reveal is expected at next month’s San Diego Comic-Con, with some claiming that we’ll finally learn the title of Episode VII. Whether that announcement will include details on the Gareth Edwards helmed 2016 spin-off and these future instalments remains to be seen!
Abrams is currently shooting Star Wars Episode VII with a cast which includes John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o and Max von Sydow, all of whom join Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker.
