Breaking. We are hearing reports via Deadline that LOOPER director Rian Johnson is in negotiations to write and direct the eighth and ninth STAR WARS movies. The news means that JJ Abrams, currently directing STAR WARS EPISODE VII at Pinewood Studios just outside of London, will move on after bringing that movie to screens in 2015.
Johnson made an impressive debut in 2005 with the indie BRICK, which featured Joseph Gordon Levitt before moving on to helm THE BROTHERS BLOOM and most recently LOOPER, which starred Levitt opposite Bruce Willis. He has also directed three episodes of the superb AMC drama Breaking Bad.
Update: /Film report the news that Johnson (kind of) confirmed the news on Twitter by posting the clip below. However, reports from both The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter state that while Johnson will write and direct Episode VIII he is only writing a treatment for the ninth, but is not set to direct it.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) June 20, 2014
Update #2: The Hollywood Reporter have also confirmed the news. Ram Bergman, who produced all of Johnson’s past movied, along with DON JON, JUSTICE and the upcoming Natalie Portman film, A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS, will produce Episode VIII.
Source: Deadline
