Rian Johnson doesn’t believe that he’ll be directing Star Wars: Episode IX

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Just last week it was announced that Colin Trevorrow, who had been set to direct STAR WARS: EPISODE IX for over two years, would no longer be directing the concluding episode of the STAR WARS sequel trilogy. In a statement, Lucasfilm said they "have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX. Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon." Naturally, fans immediately began wondering who would be stepping into Trevorrow's shoes, and one name that most everyone has included as a possibility is Rian Johnson, who is just finishing up work on STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI.

During a Japanese press-conference for the upcoming STAR WARS film, Rian Johnson was asked about whether or not he'd return to direct EPISODE IX, but sadly, that doesn't seem to be the plan, at least for now.

It was never in the plan for me to direct Episode 9, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with it…but 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.

Of course, this doesn't 100% rule Rian Johnson out, especially as the director tweeted in July that he'd had the "time of his life" making STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI and that he would do another STAR WARS movie "in a heartbeat." As Johnson is on the tail-end of completing the biggest movie of his career, so far, he may not be ready to leap so quickly into doing another giant blockbuster, but, I'm still not about to rule him out. At the same press-conference, Rian Johnson also revealed that Joseph Gordon Levitt, who has appeared in every one of his features, will have a voice cameo as an alien in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI as well. So keep your ears open!

If Rian Johnson really has taken himself out of the running, who would you most like to see direct EPISODE IX?

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI will hit theaters on December 15, 2017, with STAR WARS: EPISODE IX following on May 24, 2019.