We have known since June 2014 that, in addition to writing and directing this year’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson would also be writing, or providing a treatment for Star Wars Episode IX, which is set to be directed by Jurassic World helmer Colin Trevorrow.

However it seems that somewhere along the way, LucasFilm’s plans have changed for the climax to the new Star Wars sequel trilogy.

It now appears like Trevorrow and his Jurassic World writer Derek Connolly will be writing the script for Episode IX. The pair initially created 2012’s Safety Not Guaranteed before moving on Jurassic World, and Connolly was also recently a writer on Kong: Skull Island.

Rian Johnson yesterday replied to a fan on Twitter to clarify the situation.

Now I am sure I am not alone amongst Star Wars fans in being disappointed by this news. Rian Johnson may have stepped up into a different level from his previous movies, but with all the praise the director has been getting from his The Last Jedi stars, and his strong writing credentials, he seemed like the perfect choice to follow up his own movie with at least a treatment for the conclusion to the trilogy. Despite box office success, I would not say that the script for Jurassic World was particularly strong, and on repeated views, it seems like a lot of fans have come to a similar conclusion.

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I have never been comfortable with the choice of Trevorrow for Episode IX anyway, and frankly this news makes me even more uneasy about LucasFilm’s choice for the as yet untitled Star Wars movie. At least with Johnson behind the script there was something of a safety net for Trevorrow to fall back on, but with him no longer involved, the film seems destined to wallow in mediocrity. Maybe I am being unfair to Trevorrow and Connolly. Maybe Lucasfilm can see something there I am missing. Though let’s be clear, Jurassic World might have made a ton of money, but this is Star Wars. It’s a different world and has to both satisfy the casual audience as well as the rabid, and at times overly-critical hardcore fan base. I just hope Trevorrow and Connolly are up to the task, especially if The Last Jedi is as impressive as I hope it is going to be. 

Are you disappointed by this news like I am, or do you have faith that Trevorrow and Connolly are the right choice to write Star Wars Episode IX. Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Episode IX is due for release on May 24, 2019.

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SOURCE: Rian Johnson (via Twitter)