J.J. Abrams Reveals Star Wars Episode IX Has A Script, Will Start Filming In July
Get ready.
He only came aboard the movie in September of last year, but now J.J. Abrams has revealed that the currently untitled Star Wars Episode IX has a script in place, with filming set to begin this summer.
Abrams is directing and co-writing - with Chris Terrio (Argo, Batman v Superman) - the closing chapter of the new trilogy, which has faced some behind-the-scenes problems. Jack Thorne was brought in to rewrite then director Colin Trevorrow's original draft, but that went out the window when Trevorrow left the project, meaning Abrams and Terrio have started from scratch. He spoke about the script and shooting on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, calling Terrio a "genius", which you can see in the video below:
Shooting in July gives them plenty of time to make any final amendments to the script and perhaps make some casting announcements, while it fits in with the typical timeframe of a Star Wars movie - The Force Awakens' principal photography lasted from May to November 2014, with the movie then released in December 2015; The Last Jedi, meanwhile, shot from February to July. Episode IX is currently scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
Abrams' return to the franchise brings high expectations and a few difficulties: he needs to successfully wrap-up the new trilogy, in a movie that will bring the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance to a head while finding a way to correctly and delicately handle Leia's character - who was supposed to be at the forefront of this - after Carrie Fisher's tragic passing.
Are you excited for Episode IX? What do you think will happen? Share your thoughts down in the comments.