UPDATE: An earlier version of this post said Johnson would write and direct both Episode VIII and IX, but he’s actually only confirmed to be writing and directing Episode VIII and is only currently expected to write a script treatment for Episode IX, presumably with an option to direct should it work out for all parties involved. The updated post follows…
Well this is something you could categorize under “big news” as Deadline is reporting Rian Johnson (Looper, “Breaking Bad”) is set to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII and he’ll be writing a treatment for Episode IX for Lucasfilm and Disney, which have yet to make the announcement official, but I expect that will be coming any time now.
Johnson joins a long line of filmmakers now working on the continuing of the Star Wars saga. J.J. Abrams is obviously directing Star Wars: Episode VII for a December 18, 2015 release while Josh Trank (Chronicle) and Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) have been tapped to direct Star Wars standalone films over the next couple of years.
Clearly the world George Lucas built in 1977 is about to get a whole new look in the near future. Thoughts?
https://twitter.com/rianjohnson/statuses/480056853435396096
