Star Wars: Episode IX - 9 Reasons JJ Abrams Is The Right Choice To Direct

2. He Has A Good Relationship With Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm Logo Star Wars The Force Awakens
Lucasfilm

Quite possibly the factor that contributed most towards Abrams' hiring, the ability to work well with Lucasfilm (and Kathleen Kennedy) is - especially considering the numerous director shake-ups plaguing the studio - an important part of directing modern Star Wars movies.

After all, Lucasfilm is the customer, and if they're not happy with the product you're delivering them, you'll be out.

The most worrying case we've seen is undoubtedly the Phil Lord/Chris Miller fiasco, with the directors being removed from the Han Solo spinoff while they were deep into filming.

This does not bode well for that movie, at all. The primary creative force behind it has been removed, even though the movie was nearly in the can? It's an absolute mess.

If Lord and Miller had a stronger relationship with Lucasfilm and Kennedy, they'd be in post-production as we speak. Instead, the Han Solo movie is being rushed to the finish line with a different director. The project is not in the best shape it could be.

So, isn't it a relief to know that J.J Abrams absolutely can work with Lucasfilm, and all of Episode IX's troubles - barring unfortunate, unforeseen circumstances - are behind it?

The relationship he built with Lucasfilm while making Episode VII is clearly a strong one given that they've asked him to come back, and that means Episode IX will not suffer any extra (potentially movie-ruining) behind-the-scenes drama.

Contributor
Contributor

Danny has been with WhatCulture for over ten years, and is currently Doctor Who Editor and WhoCulture Channel Manager, overseeing all of WhatCulture's Whoniverse coverage. In 2022, he took charge of WhoCulture and has grown it into the biggest Doctor Who channel on YouTube, and one of the biggest Doctor Who communities on the web full-stop. He has been writing and video editing since his early teens, and first got a taste for content creation after making his own Doctor Who trailers, off the back of a burning obsession with the Matt Smith era of the show. Like many his age, he first got into Doctor Who with the 2005 revival, but has since gone back and fallen in love with the classic years too. If you need someone to recite every Doctor Who episode in order, or to give you a random factoid about the making of Gridlock, Danny is the person to ask!