Colin Trevorrow out as director for 'Star Wars: Episode IX'

Image from The Hollywood Reporter

By Darian Scalamoni

            Lucasfilm has had its fair share of issues since expanding the universe back in 2015. Many were skeptical about JJ Abrams directing The Force Awakens but that has been the least of their directorial worries since and there seems to be no slowing down. According to multiple outlets, Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World, The Book of Henry) is stepping out as the director of Star Wars: Episode IX in what is called “a mutual parting of ways”.

            It was announced over two years ago that Trevorrow would direct the ninth episodic film within the Star Wars franchise, but after his recent indie flick, The Book of Henry was poorly received by critics, many believed that Trevorrow would soon be out as director of the latest movie to take place in a galaxy far, far away. Jack Thorne (A Long Way Down, the upcoming Wonder), was just brought in this past week to rewrite Episode IX after previous reports said that Kathleen Kennedy had issues with Trevorrow and Derek Connelly’s first script.

            This news adds onto the recent developments the last few years with the recent Star Wars anthology films. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which was directed by Gareth Edwards had issues in the finishing of production, so much so that Tony Gilroy joined the movie to conduct the reshoots. Even more recently, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired from the set of the upcoming Han Solo anthology film which will star Alden Ehrenreich. Veteran director and friend of George Lucas, Ron Howard was brought on to finish the filming process.

            Personally, these issues have to stem from the top and I question whether the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy and Lawrence Kasdan and whether or not they can lead Lucasfilm. With so many directorial problems, that could’ve been avoided in the beginning before the filming process even began, it’s hard to not look at a directionless system of filmmaking.

            According to Collider, Rian Johnson, who directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, due out in December is “atop a shortlist of directors” who might replace Trevorrow but coming off of such a massive production and jumping right back into the world could be incredibly exhausting (i.e. Joss Whedon with the Avengers films).

            How do you guys feel about the news that Colin Trevorrow is out as director for Star Wars: Episode IX? Would you guys like to see Rian Johnson return for Episode IX? If not, who would you like to see takeover? Let us know in the comments below!