After directing the year’s highest-grossing film thus far, “Jurassic World,” Colin Trevorrow will direct “Star Wars: Episode IX,” Disney chief Alan Horn announced on Saturday at the D23 Fan Expo in Anaheim.
“This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople,”Trevorrow said. “We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had — a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”
While production won’t begin for a few years, Trevorrow is heading to Lucasfilm this year to begin working with artists and his fellow “Star Wars” directors.
“Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw ‘Safety Not Guaranteed,’” said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of ‘Jurassic World’ speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”
“Star Wars: Episode IX” is set for release in 2019 and will conclude the third trilogy of “Star Wars” movies that begins with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on Dec. 18.
Rian Johnson is directing “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” and is expected to write the treatment for “Episode IX.” Meanwhile, “Lego Movie” filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing a standalone movie about a young Han Solo while “Godzilla” director Gareth Edwards is currently shooting “Rogue One,” starring Felicity Jones.
Trevorrow will next direct “Book of Henry” starring Naomi Watts, and he’s also slated to write “Jurassic World 2” with his frequent collaborator Derek Connolly, who previously wrote “Safety Not Guaranteed.”
Led by Chris Pratt and his army of velociprators, “Jurassic World” has grossed $1.6 billion worldwide to date. Trevorrow is repped by Verve, 3 Arts Entertainment and Ginsburg Daniels.
Trevorrow’s rumored hiring was first reported by El Mayimbe at Heroic Hollywood.