The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson Will Launch Lucasfilm’s Fourth Star Wars Trilogy

Rian Johnson has reserved his place in that galaxy far, far away for years to come.

Disney and Lucasfilm have announced today that The Last Jedi writer-director will launch the fourth mainline Star Wars trilogy, replete with all-new characters and a fresh story. It’ll even be set in a different galaxy, so how’s that for branching off from the Skywalker saga?

Behind the lens, Johnson will reteam with Ram Bergman (Looper, Brick) and Lucasfilm brass Kathleen Kennedy, who recently confirmed that the Powers That Be have been planning for the next decade of Star Wars beyond 2017. In light of today’s big announcement, it seems Rian Johnson will now be instrumental in shaping the future of Lucasfilm’s crown jewel.

Here’s what Kathleen Kennedy had to share in an official statement:

We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi. He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.

Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman have now been offered a clear shot at what is undoubtedly the biggest brand in entertainment, and in a joint statement, the pair revealed that they are over the moon with the news:

We had the time of our lives collaborating with Lucasfilm and Disney on The Last Jedi. Star Wars is the greatest modern mythology and we feel very lucky to have contributed to it. We can’t wait to continue with this new series of films.

There’s never been a better time to be a Star Wars fan, what with The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Episode IX and a nascent Obi-Wan spinoff all gestating in various stages of development. Word is Lucasfilm also has plans for both Boba Fett and Yoda, which ought to make a nice counter to Rian Johnson’s all-new story. Balancing the old with the new, as it were.

And it all begins with The Last Jedi on December 15th of this year.