If Disney and Lucasfilm’s swift decision to appoint J.J. Abrams at the helm of Star Wars: Episode IX – in lieu of Colin Trevorrow, no less – got you excited, you weren’t the only one.
While appearing on YouTube channel Planéte Star Wars (via Heroic Hollywood), John Boyega admitted that he’s “really happy [and] excited” about the prospect of Abrams returning, who will now complete the circle following his work on 2015’s The Force Awakens. An unapologetic love letter to the original Star Wars, J.J. Abrams’ franchise revival amassed a staggering $2.05 billion worldwide, so it’s small wonder why the Powers That Be turned to the director in their time of need – much to the frustration of Paramount. And one can draw comparisons to how Lucasfilm hired Ron Howard, another seasoned filmmaker, to spearhead the Han Solo anthology pic.
As for Boyega, the Pacific Rim: Uprising actor noted that he simply can’t wait to reunite with J.J. Abrams when production gets underway in 2018, before joking that he is, in fact, the real reason why Abrams returned in the first place.
Of course, it’s not uncommon for an actor to heap praise on their director, particularly when it’s one they’ve already worked with in the past. For Boyega though, this presents another opportunity to delve deep into what makes Finn tick.
Yeah, I’m really happy [and] really excited. I actually sent him an email and asked him if the real reason is because he misses me. And I think that’s what it is – that’s the only reason why he came back, and I appreciate that.
The hiring of Abrams wasn’t met with praise in all quarters, however, after a vocal minority launched a petition asking Lucasfilm to find a third director to spearhead Episode IX.
No update on that front, but with J.J. Abrams now in the driving seat, Star Wars: Episode IX will be with us in December of 2019.