Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Rian Johnson is reportedly on board to direct 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' and 'Episode IX,' the final two installments of the new trilogy started by J.J. Abrams. The new "Star Wars" trilogy has found its next Jedi master.
Lucasfilm tapped Rian Johnson to take over for director J.J. Abrams for "Episode VIII" and "Episode IX," Deadline.com first reported.
Abrams previously hinted that he would not stick with the franchise past "Star Wars: Episode VII," which is currently filming in England's Pinewood Studios.
Alan Markfield The new director of the last two films in the latet 'Star Wars' trilogy, Rian Johnson, is best known for directing 2012 sci-fi flick 'Looper,' pictured. Johnson, 40, has a resume that's mostly made up of indie dramas, but wowed critics with 2012 time travel action flick "Looper." He also directed three episodes of AMC drama "Breaking Bad."
He joins a geek dream team already attached to the franchise. Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla") and Josh Trank ("Fantastic Four" reboot, "Chronicle") have been announced as directors of "Star Wars" standalone movies in recent weeks.
LUCASFILM LTD/ASSOCIATED PRESS Rian Johnson joins a team of directors hired by Lucasfilm that already included Abrams and Josh Trank and Gareth Edwards, the latter two who were signed up for 'Star Wars' standalone films. Though Johnson didn't publicly comment on the reports, he did post a clip from astronaut biopic "The Right Stuff," that seemed to confirm he was about to embark on a space adventure.
"Dear Lord, please don't let me f-- up," Scott Glenn's Alan Sheppard mutters under his breath in the clip before his rocket blasts off.
Source : http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/rian-johnson-tapped-direct-star-wars-episode-viii-episode-ix-article-1.1837936
