Another director tasked with carrying the “Star Wars” saga forward is out following creative differences with parent studio Lucasfilm. Director Colin Trevorrow and the studio are parting ways, and Trevorrow will no longer direct “Star Wars Episode IX.”
- Trevorrow announced as director in August 2015
- Trevorrow selected after huge success directing “Jurassic World”
- Studio parted ways with “Han Solo” film directors in June
The studio made the announcement on the official Star Wars website on Sept. 5.
“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,” the statement read. “We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.”
Trevorrow was first announced as the director of Episode IX during the D23 convention in August 2015. At the time it was hailed as a coup for the studio and parent company Disney, nabbing a hot commodity director in Trevorrow, fresh off his success directing “Jurassic World” for Universal.
This is now the third time in the last two years Lucasfilm has moved to change directors on a “Star Wars” project. Earlier in 2017, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired from the planned stand-alone “Han Solo” film project. Lord and Miller were replaced with veteran director Ron Howard.
Prior to that, Tony Gilroy was brought in to film reshoots for 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” replacing director Gareth Edwards.
“Star Wars: Episode IX” is expected to open in theaters on May 24, 2019.