With all of the director shuffling going on at Lucasfilm, it is truly amazing that Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson wasn’t touched while making the film. With the recent departure of Colin Trevorrow from Episode IX, names have begun to get kicked around Hollywood as to who will release him. Johnson is at the top of most people’s lists, but does he want the job? In a recent statement, Johnson talks about the possibility of him taking over the sequel to The Last Jedi.
Last week, Johnson completed his work on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but could the director return to helm Episode IX? It seems that Johnson has no interest in returning for the sequel. In a press conference, he talks to SW Web Blog:
“It was never in the plan for me to direct Episode 9, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with it…for me, I was entirely focused on Episode 8 and having this experience. Now I’m just thinking about putting the movie out there and seeing how audiences respond to it. So no, I’m not really thinking about that right now. Whoever does it, I’m going to be really excited to be an audience member again, and to sit down and see what the next filmmaker has to show us and where this story ends up going.”
Although dollar amounts and story for Episode IX will undoubtedly be the deciding factors to whether Johnson will take the gig, for the time being he shoots down the idea. Star Wars has taken up a large part of the last two years of Johnson’s life, and dedicating a further two will be a big undertaking, should he decide to take the job.
Star Wars: Episode IX hits thats on May 2019.
