J.J. Abrams Apparently Regrets Not Writing Star Wars Episode VIII
Apparently, Rian Johnson’s script is so good for the next planned installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which will be Star Wars: Episode VIII, that Abrams actually regrets that he will not be able to write and direct the film. This is the case according to Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor Greg Grunberg, who is also a longtime friend and collaborator with Abrams. He informed The Washington Post that the script for the next film is so good, he wishes he could have written it as well.
According to Grunberg, who played Snap Wexley in the Force Awakens, “He [Abrams] read it and said something he never, ever says.” He continued that J.J. Abrams called the Episode VIII script by Rian Johnson “so good,” he wished he had worked on it. Grunberg claimed that Abrams has not had a reaction quite like this for a project he’s worked on, saying, “He may have said something one time on ‘Lost,’ with Damon [Lindelof, the co-creator], but I never hear him express regret like that.”
Looper writer-director Rian Johnson is writing and directing the new film, but that’s already a pretty ringing endorsement for his script for the sequel. That’s considering that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is sitting on a domestic gross of $363 million and $765 million worldwide. That’s after less than a week of release in theaters. In addition, the film has a 95% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes which is pretty outstanding for any movie, not just the Star Wars franchise.
Abrams will still serve a role on the next Star Wars sequels sequels as a producer. Star Wars: Episode VIII is currently slated for a May 2017 release date. So fans will not have to wait as long to return to a time long ago, in a galaxy far, far away.