Rian Johnson to Direct 'Star Wars: Episode VIII'
By Rebecca Ford, Tatiana Siegel
The Force must be strong with Rian Johnson.The Looper director is in talks with Lucasfilm to direct the next Star Wars film, Episode VIII, according to sources.
PHOTOS Meet the ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Cast
Contrary to reports that he will be directing the next two Star Wars film, Johnson will only direct Episode VIII, but he is writing a treatment for Episode IX.
Johnson has directed three feature film. His directorial debut, 2005’s Brick, won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. He followed that up with 2008’s Brothers Bloom and 2012’s time-jumping action-drama Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Johnson, repped by CAA and Lichter, Grossman, also has directed three episodes of AMC’s hit series Breaking Bad.
PHOTOS: 'Star Wars' Actors: Then and Now
J.J. Abrams is directing the first new film, Star Wars: Episode VII, which is currently shooting. It stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o and Max von Sydow, who will join the original stars of the saga, Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker.
Chronicle helmer Josh Trank and Godzilla director Gareth Edwards have both been tapped to each direct a Star Wars stand-alone film.
