Rian Johnson To Direct Star Wars: Episode VIII

Rian Johnson is set to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII, according to multiple sources.

Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety all report that Johnson is in talks with Lucasfilm to write and direct Episode VIII.  Deadline reports that he will also write and direct Episode IX, though the other sources say he will just write the treatment and not direct Episode IX.

Johnson is best known as the writer and director of the 2012 hit Looper.  His other directing credits include Brick, The Brothers Bloom, and three prominent episodes of Breaking Bad.

Lucasfilm has not yet confirmed this story.