J.J. Abrams was at the 2019 Oscar Wilde Awards, which was presented at Bad Robot and was of course asked many questions about Star Wars Episode IX while on the red carpet for the event. Of course we have the proverbial “meat and potatoes” part of the interview right here for you to digest.
Abrams was asked if the backlash aimed at Star Wars: The Last Jedi had any sort of impact on his plans for Star Wars Episode IX. “No, I think that every movie is its own movie and, obviously, this is a trilogy. We brought to that movie all the passion and hard work that we would have no matter what. I think the story speaks for itself.”
Abrams expressed his excitement about Star Wars Episode IX before revealing what he hopes fans take away from it. “You’ll have to determine that yourself, but I really can’t wait for you to see it. There are a lot of words that we all hope that you’ll feel and, obviously, the biggest, most important one, I think, is satisfied.”
J.J. was also asked about directing Billy Dee Williams. “I met him once before, and he is such a sweet guy, but I have got to tell you… I have such respect for him. We had a great time and he was wonderful. Everyone on set noticed this aura around him. He is really an incredible man and an incredible actor.”
As for when we will get a title announcement, Abrams was mum on that. I guess we will be waiting just a little longer for that piece of information.
About Star Wars: Episode IX:
The cast includes Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin. The crew includes Dan Mindel (Director of Photography), Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins (Co-Production Designers), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Neal Scanlan (Creature and Droid FX), Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube (Editors), Roger Guyett (VFX Supervisor), Tommy Gormley (1st AD), and Victoria Mahoney (2nd Unit Director).
Release is scheduled for December 2019.
