Given reports of friction with the Disney brass, the departure of writers, and director J.J. Abrams’ complaints about managing an enterprise as vast as Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, it came as no surprise when Disney tapped Rian Johnson to helm Star Wars VIII, the second film in the new Star Wars trilogy (see “Looper Director Gets Next 2 Star Wars Films”).  But wait a minute, though Johnson was originally expected to direct both Episodes VIII & IX, no mention of Johnson directing Episode IX was made during the recent Star Wars announcement that covered plans for Episode VIII and the Gareth Edwards-helmed spin-off film Rogue One (see “First Standalone Star Wars Movie Revealed”), and now comes word that Disney loves the footage that Abrams has produced on The Force Awakens and rumors that the studio wants Abrams back to bookend the modern trilogy by directing Star Wars Episode IX.

The Latino Review, which does have some good inside connections at Hollywood studios (but has also been wrong in the past with its “rumors"), reports that “it has been able to verify four times that his (Abrams’) name is the frontrunner for the last trilogy installment.”  Even if the “rumors” are true, scheduling conflicts with other projects could still derail Abrams’ involvement in Episode IX, which isn’t due in theaters until 2019.  Stay tuned for more details, the reception of the Abrams-helmed Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which debuts this December, may be the deciding factor in who gets to direct the final film in the modern Star Wars trilogy.