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J.J. Abrams on not directing Star Wars: Episode VIII

December 10, 2015 by Gary Collinson

Despite relaunching the Star Wars saga with next week’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, director J.J. Abrams will be handing over the reins for the rest of the Sequel Trilogy, with Rian Johnson (Looper) helming Star Wars: Episode VIII and Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) rounding things out with Star Wars: Episode IX.

Chatting with the Associated Press, Abrams was asked if he has any regrets about not continuing the story, responding that: “It’s a bittersweet choice. On one hand, I felt like if this movie works for people, then that’s the way you want to go out. You don’t want to necessarily have to top something that worked. And if it’s a disaster, no one would want me to direct the next one anyway. It was only a win.”

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set for release on December 17th in the UK and December 18th in the States and sees J.J. Abrams directing returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), in addition to Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Ken Leung (Lost), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day), Simon Pegg (Star Trek) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=CZqbaYLPf4A

Originally published December 10, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News Tagged With: J.J. Abrams, Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode VIII, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is a film, television and digital content writer and producer, and the founder and editor-in-chief of the pop culture media brand Flickering Myth. As a producer, his work includes the gothic horror feature The Baby in the Basket and suspense thriller Death Among the Pines, and he is also the author of the book Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.

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