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NEW S / BOOK S /COMI CS / T O Y S / G AME S /F A SHI ON

Pilots of the
future! J.J.
Abrams and
Kathleen
Kennedy.

Return of the J.J.

The Force Awakens’ director returns to helm Star Wars Episode IX

he lure of the Force has December 20 release slot—in line (2001—2006), and the paranormal
T proven strong once more. with the Christmas release of both mystery Fringe (2008—2013). His
biggest TV success, however, was
Award-winning director
The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
J.J. Abrams, who helmed Abrams will co-write the fi lm’s script Lost (2004—2010). The story of the
The Force Awakens, has signed on with screenwriter Chris Terrio, survivors of an air-crash fi nding
to direct the upcoming Star Wars previously best known for the themselves on a mysterious island,
Episode IX. award-winning Argo (2012). it lasted for six intriguing seasons.
Abrams’ appointment on the fi lm It’s perhaps not a surprise that At the same time, Abrams was

was announced shortly after news Abrams has returned to the Star Wars pursuing a feature film career. He

broke that the film’s original director, galaxy. The director has previously made his directorial debut with the
Colin Trevorrow, had departed the stated that he regretted not directing hit Mission: Impossible III (2006),
project in early September. the follow up to The Force Awakens, produced monster movie Cloverfi eld
“With The Force Awakens, J.J. and he reportedly told his close friend (2008), and successfully rebooted
delivered everything we could have (and Snap Wexley actor) Greg Star Trek (2009) into a blockbuster

possibly hoped for,” said Lucasfi lm Grunberg that the script for Johnson’s film franchise. He also directed the
President Kathleen Kennedy. “I am film was, “So good, I wish I were 1980s-infl ected Super 8 (2011) before

so excited that he is coming back to making it!” returning to Captain Kirk and co.
close out this trilogy.” Abrams has a long and storied with Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).
The appointment comes with a career, particularly in science fi ction. He also has an impressive string of
slight delay to the film’s release date. He began in television with teen producer credits to his name. The

Originally planned for May 24 2019, drama Felicity (1998—2003), followed so-far-untitled Episode IX will begin
it has now been nudged back to a by the SF-tinged spy series Alias shooting in 2018.

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