Lucasfilm makes change to helm of Star Wars Episode IX

In a statement today Lucasfilm revealed it has parted ways with Colin Trevorrow, who had been working on Star Wars: Episode IX as its director.

“Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX. Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.”

So, Lucasfilm has announced another change of who is in charge of a future Star Wars film. This is getting to be a trend. Lucasfilm has made a number of director switches recently. Tony Gilroy stepped in to assist Gareth Edwards on Rogue One’s reshoots, Josh Trank was taken off a Star Wars anthology film, and in June Phil Lord and Chris Miller were removed from the Han Solo stand-alone film and replaced with Ron Howard.

In many other Hollywood productions, the director’s vision is the film’s vision, but for Star Wars, more than perhaps any other franchise, has to exist within a larger vision and longitude of storytelling. When a director diverts too far from that vision, Lucasfilm has to let them go. That’s what happened with Colin Trevorrow.

Trevorrow had one mega-hit under his belt — Jurassic World. But that was essentially a franchise reboot, where as Episode IX serves another purpose. It’s good that they’ve made the switch relatively early in the process this time. Episode IX is the ultimate final movie in the Skywalker saga. So there’s a lot of pressure to get it right.

This begs the question, who will replace Tervorrow? J.J. Abrams successful relaunched the new trilogy, Rian Johnson is wrapping up post-production on “The Last Jedi” and George Lucas is still hanging around. It might also be time for the first woman to direct at Star Wars movie. I’m definitely ready for that if the time is now. Although any director looking to make their unique mark might wish to wait for the chance to take a movie from go to curtain up.

Do you have any nominations for the next director for Star Wars: Episode IX?