What has been, until recently, rumour is now real. Disney chairman Alan Horn announced on Saturday at D23 that Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow will direct the third of the new Star Wars trilogy films, currently still known simply as Episode IX.
While this had been something of a widely spread bit of potential news, one we honestly expected to see confirmed at Comic-Con last month, the deal wasn’t concluded until recently. Trevorrow, who announced he wouldn’t be directing another Jurassic World, but seems happy to take on a very different kind of franchise beast, wasn’t at D23, but did make a statement: “This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople. We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had—a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channelling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”
And Kathleen Kennedy is clearly confident in her choice. “Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw Safety Not Guaranteed," said the Lucasfilm president. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of Jurassic World speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”
The director, who has seen Jurassic World surge to more than $1.5 billion at the global box office, is currently preparing to make mystery film** The Book Of Henry as a palate cleanser after dealing with the dinos. With Episode IX not due out until 2019, he’ll have time to prepare for the challenge of Star Wars. Still, the pressure will be on him to stick the landing in a satisfying way, as the new trilogy will conclude with his work.