J.J. Abrams now regrets passing on directing ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’

Perhaps because the experience on Star Trek Into Darkness wasn’t great, J.J. Abrams passed on the chance to direct a second Star Wars movie. Now, after all the success of The Force Awakens and after reading Rian Johnson’s script for Episode VIII, he wishes he didn’t.

In an interview with The Washington Post, longtime Abrams friend and actor Greg Grunberg said that he heard Abrams do something he’s never done. Abrams regretted turning down the directing gig for the next main Star Wars film.

“He may have said something one time on Lost, with Damon [Lindelof, the co-creator], but I never hear him express regret like that,” Grunberg said. (Grunberg can be spotted in The Force Awakens as Resistance pilot Snap Wexley.)

Abrams directed and co-wrote The Force Awakens with Lawrence Kasdan. But Johnson, the director of the sci-fi cult classic Looper, is writing and directing Episode VIII. That film is scheduled for release on May 26, 2017. Abrams is going to stick on as an executive producer, but it’s all Johnson’s show.

Abrams said in November that Johnson has already completed the script for Episode VIII.

The new movie will retain much of the same cast as The Force Awakens, including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver.

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