The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Lucasfilm & Walt Disney Studios have enlisted British screenwriter Jack Thorne to rewrite the script for the upcoming ninth installment in their long-running Star Wars franchise, the tentatively titled Episode IX.
It's unknown exactly how extensive the rewrites will be, but Thorne will have a few months on his hands as production isn't expected to kick off until January 2018. Director Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) and his longtime writing partner Derek Connolly had previously been working on the story, but it became clear to them that the script needed a fresh pair of eyes to elevate it to the next level.
THR's report adds that stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac are all expected to return for Episode IX - provided they don't perish in Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi this December. It's also been strongly implied that franchise legend Mark Hamill will return in some capacity as Luke Skywalker.
Thorne most recently wrote the screenplay for Lionsgate's upcoming drama Wonder, which stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay, and is well-known across the pond for creating/co-creating several popular British television shows, including The Fades, The Cast-Offs, The Last Panthers, and National Treasure.
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Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters May 24, 2019