‘Looper’ director Rian Johnson will helm ‘Star Wars Episode VIII’ and write ‘Episode IX’
According to new reports today Looper director Rian Johnson will write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII, and The Wrap reports that he write a treatment for Star Wars: Episode IX.
Deadline reports that Johnson will “get started quickly and this will be his preoccupation for quite awhile.” While Deadline reported that Johnson would be directing both Episode VIII and IX, The Wrap says he’ll only be writing the treatment on Episode IX. Variety confirms that Johnson is on board to write and direct Episode VIII.
Looper, a $30 million sci-fi time travel film that showed to be a success, earning over $66 million in the US, $176 globally.
Director JJ Abrams comes over from the Star Trek franchise to revitalize the franchise. Godzilla director Gareth Edwards has been brought in to direct the first solo spin-off film, possibly a Boba Fett themed film, with Chronicle director Josh Trank is also aboard for a standalone film.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Josh into the family,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “He is such an incredible talent and has a great imagination and sense of innovation. That makes him perfectly suited to Star Wars, and for this new slate of movies that reach beyond the core characters and storylines of Episodes I through IX.”
There was no such statement thus far about Johnson.
Disney has revealed they planned on having a Star Wars film every year starting in 2015. A Young Han Solo, Boba Fett, Yoda and Red Five themed films have all been rumored, but nothing has been confirmed by the Disney Execs.
Episode VII will feature Ford and original trilogy stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker as well as newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o and Max von Sydow.
Star Wars: Episode VII arrives in theaters onDecember 2015.
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