It may seem premature to discuss directors for Star Wars: Episode IX, considering that we're still entire seasons away from seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
But as Disney has a minimum of five Star Wars movies planned at the moment (the core trilogy and two standalones...so far), with the intention of making certain that one Star Wars movie is released each calendar year, you can see why they might want to plan ahead.
The original Star Wars trilogy employed three different directors, while the prequels just had George Lucas at the helm for all three installments.
Depending on who you ask, Disney might be taking the former approach for the new trilogy. JJ Abrams is directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, while Rian Johnson is directing the still otherwise untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII. This much we know for sure.
But now two names have surfaced in connection with Star Wars: Episode IX: Francis Lawrence and ... JJ Abrams.
There's been talk of all kinds of problems between Mr. Abrams and Disney, and the first draft of the press release announcing Star Wars: Rogue One and the release date for Star Wars: Episode VIII even left his name off of Episode VIII's executive producer credit (that was quickly corrected).
Latino Review (who first reported the news) claim that four of their sources have verified that Abrams is at least being discussed for the job.
But Making Star Wars also reports that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence is also in the mix for the director's chair.
He's certainly got a profitable track record thanks to Katniss and friends, he's clearly not afraid of the genre blockbuster, and it at least appears that his scheduleis clear enough for the job. At the very most, Disney and Lawrence have had "quiet talks." Making Star Wars' sources also seem to believe in the Abrams discussions, too.
But keep in mind that when Rian Johnson was first announced as writer and director of Star Wars: Episode VIII, there were some conflicting reports that he had also been brought on to direct Episode IX. Depending on who you ask, he's either writing that movie or writing and directing it.
My own suspicion is that we'll get a third director for Star Wars: Episode IX and whoever it is will be announced at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim this April. More on this as we get it.
SEE ALSO: How a simple wooden plank helped create the greatest fight in 'Star Wars: Episode I'
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