BREAKING: ‘Looper’s Rian Johnson To Write, Direct STAR WARS Episode VIII + Write Ep IX!!!

Looper director Rian Johnson is WRITING AND DIRECTING Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX!

This makes sense as this bombshell of a news report updates throughout the day…slowly, the pieces are falling in to place. I’ve already had a source CONFIRM that Rian is not only in talks but has signed on the dotted line for Episode VIII. And it makes sense that his directing VIII will set a template for IX so yeah, he will write a treatment. This leaves speculation open that perhaps another director will come on board for Episode IX; a sincere nod to the OT where a different director took on each chapter.

So yeah, it feels like Rian is in charge of making Episode VIII the Empire Strikes Back of the new trilogy. A nice call on everyone in Schmoeville who is saying as much. So now we see who (if any) will take on IX or if Deadline’s original report (below) will shake out to be true.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Says Deadline:

Rarely have I seen the revival of a film franchise stir so much fervor as Star Wars, among hot young filmmakers who grew up loving George Lucas’ original film trilogy. In a bombshell move, I’m told that Lucasfilm is making a deal with Looper writer-director Rian Johnson to write and direct Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX. Essentially, that means that the intention is for Johnson to take the baton from JJ Abrams, who has gotten the space franchise off the ground and is right now helming Episode VII. I don’t know too much more at this point, but it is in keeping with Disney and Lucasfilm’s strategy of entrusting the venerable franchise to the best and brightest writers and directors, including the spinoff films that are being directed by Chronicle‘s Josh Trank and Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards.