Disney and Star Wars fans alike don't want to get too ahead of themselves. J.J. Abrams' "The Force Awakens" is still several months away and the first spin-off film won't hit theatres until 2016. But that doesn't mean all parties involved aren't looking to the future.
Director Rian Johnson ("Brick," "Looper") will helm "Episode VIII," while Gareth Edwards ("Monsters," "Godzilla") will tackle "Star Wars: Rouge One." But what about "Episode IX"?
"Despite his absence from the production team on the next installments, his commitment to other ongoing franchises and early rumors of disagreements between him and the Disney Team, there's a good chance that J.J. Abrams will be back to direct Star Wars: Episode IX," Kellvin Chavez of Latino Review wrote.
"We can only report it as a rumor this far out, but those at Disney who have seen footage from The Force Awakens are very happy with what Abrams has delivered. J.J. himself has been vocal about how crazy the process has been, but has given equal time to his love of the series.
"There are enough conversations about J.J. Abrams returning to direct Episode IX that we've been able to independently verify it four times that his name is the front-runner for the last trilogy installment..."
If anything, this bodes well for the continuity of the Star Wars franchise. Plus, it's hard to imagine that Disney/Lucasfilm would hand the reigns back to Abrams if they weren't excited about "The Force Awakens."
Since it was known that a new slate of "Star Wars" films were coming, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has spoken at length about getting it "right" this time around, a reference to the poorly received prequels. Fans want iconic characters and compelling stories to go along with the jaw-dropping effects. If these rumors prove true, it's likely that Abrams has delivered that.
However, there is no guarantee that Abrams would sign on for another film, even if Disney really does want to bring him back. Abrams was initially hesitant to sign on for "The Force Awakens" and has described directing it as "an intense and terrifying prospect." As a huge fan of "Star Wars" growing up, Abrams is undoubtedly nervous about how his new installment will fare.
Take this all with a grain of salt, though, as these rumors are still unconfirmed.
