J. J. Abrams replaces Colin Trevorrow as ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ director

After Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow gets fired as director for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, it looks like Lucasfilm and Disney are going back to a tried-and-tested director. The production company names J.J. Abrams as Trevorrow’s replacement. Abrams directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which can be considered the reboot or continuation of the nine-part Star Wars saga. As a consequence of the directorial change, Lucasfilm also announced that this last movie of this installment is getting pushed back to December 20, 2019 instead of its May 2019 release.

Before Trevorrow lost the gig, we know Lucasfilm brought on Jack Thorne to re-write the script. Rumour has it the film needed to be re-written partly because of Carrie Fisher’s death. As General Leia in the new set of films, she was set to play a significant role in Episode IX and while we may see some pre-shot footage, her role in the film will obviously have to be lessened.

Source: Ars Technica

J.J. Abrams to produce new show for HBO about space colonies

David Shankbone/Flickr

J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot Productions are at it again. He’s working on another show for HBO just hot on the heels of Westworld. This time the show will be called Glare and Abrams will also been an executive producer on the show. Details are scarce at the moment but the pilot is going to be written by Javier Gullón. He will also serve as an executive producer for the show. The episodes will be an hour long, too. But there is no word yet how many episodes there will be and when it will air.

Source: io9

J.J. Abrams hints about Rey's parents in the 'Star Wars' universe

Photo courtesy of David James/2015 Lucasfilm LTD.

Speculation has been ripe about who Rey's real parents are. The most popular theories are she's Luke's daughter or Leia and Han Solo's daughter, making her Kylo Ren's sister. Stirring up the debate further, Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams left hints about who Rey's parents. He said during an audience Q&A at the Tribeca Film Festival that "Rey's parents are not in Episode VII. So I can't possibly say in this moment who they are. But I will say it is something that Rey thinks about, too."

Of course, this goes against the previously mentioned theories since the speculation is revolving around characters that did show up in the movie. But during an interview with Entertainment Weekly after the Q&A, Abrams clarified that he meant The Force Awakens meant to build up the mystery of her lineage without resolving it. "What I meant was that she doesn't discover them in Episode VII. Not that they may not already be in her world." 

Source: Entertainment Weekly

J.J. Abrams calls out ‘Star Wars’ merchandise makers for lack of Rey merch

Hasbro has been on the receiving end of criticism as the company failed to include main protagonist Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) in the Star Wars edition of Monopoly, just one of the many merchandise released to promote Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film’s director J.J. Abrams isn’t happy about this. “It seems preposterous and wrong that the main character of the movie is not well-represented in what is clearly a huge piece of the Star Wars world, in terms of merchandising,” Abrams told reporters on Saturday after a Television Critics Association panel for his new Hulu series 11.22.63.

Hasbro has released a statement earlier this week though that they plan to rectify the situation. "We love the passion fans have for Rey, and are happy to announce that we will be making a running change to include her in the Monopoly: Star Wars game later this year,” they said in the statement. Hasbro said she wasn’t included to avoid revealing a key plot line.

Source: Mashable