‘Star Wars’: Rian Johnson Was Offered ‘Episode IX’ Before J.J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was reportedly offered the chance to direct the next installment of the Skywalker Saga and sequel to his upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode IX.

According to Deadline, Lucasfilm had their sights set on Johnson but he ultimately passed on the gig. Johnson had emerged as the reported frontrunner following Colin Trevorrow’s exit as the film’s director last week but when asked recently at Oricon whether or not he would be returning to close out the sequel trilogy, Johnson made it clear that it wasn’t something he is thinking about and that he is currently focused on finished The Last Jedi, which is nearly finished.

Johnson’s return to direct Episode IX may have fallen in line with what Lucasfilm had originally intended. When Johnson was first announced to direct Episode VIII, he was reported to both write and direct the second and third films in the new trilogy, however, this did not end up being the case as he has had no involvement in Episode IX thus far.

The announcement that Abrams would be returning to finish the trilogy he began with Lucasfilm in 2015 came this morning and was followed by a seven-month delay of the film’s release date, shifting it from May 24, 2019, to December 20, 2019.

Plot details for Star Wars: Episode IX are still under wraps but Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver are all expected to return. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on the future of the Star Wars franchise as we learn it.

Source: Deadline