Rian Johnson responds to rumors that he’ll direct Star Wars: Episode IX

Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson has responded to rumors that he’ll helm Star Wars: Episode IX, following the departure of Colin Trevorrow.

Trevorrow left the project last week due to creative differences with Lucasfilm, and Johnson’s name quickly came up as a potential replacement. However the Looper director has now put those rumors to bed, telling SW Web Blog during a press conference in Japan, that he has no intention of taking on the role:

“It was never in the plan for me to direct Episode 9, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with it…for me, I was entirely focused on Episode 8 and having this experience. Now I’m just thinking about putting the movie out there and seeing how audiences respond to it. So no, I’m not really thinking about that right now. Whoever does it, I’m going to be really excited to be an audience member again, and to sit down and see what the next filmmaker has to show us and where this story ends up going.”

Star Wars: Episode IX opens in May 2019.