Star Wars: Episode IX

That’s a wrap!  Via Twitter, J.J. Abrams posted a melancholy photo of stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac embracing as principle filming wrapped on ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’.  Not only does this tie-up the trilogy of modern ‘Star Wars’ pictures that began with 2015’s ‘The Force Awakens’, but this wraps up the entire original saga, which began with 1977’s first entry, known at the time as simply ‘Star Wars’, but now designated ‘A New Hope’, and continued through the prequels from 1999-2005.

Abrams didn’t address the magnitude of this film’s wrap but simply captioned his picture with a personal message thanking the cast and crew:

“It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all.”

Abrams also directed ‘The Force Awakens’, but turned those duties over to Rian Johnson for ‘Episode VIII – The Last Jedi’, which got a decidedly mixed reaction from fans.

Of course, this isn’t the end of ‘Star Wars’.  Plans are underway for a new trilogy to launch… um, sometime later.  Jon Favreau will bring the franchise to television, with his series ‘The Mandalorian’ on the upcoming Disney+ streaming service.  There will also likely be more stand-alone ‘Star Wars Story’ films, even though the last one, ‘Solo’ kind of threw a wrench into that concept by being the first theatrical flop in the Saga.

There will most likely be some reshoots for ‘Episode IX’, but the picture will finally be released on December 20.  So far, there haven’t been any trailers for this picture, but that should change with convention season this spring and summer.

Are you excited to see the final conclusion to the ‘Star Wars’ Saga?  Or are you dreading the ending of this franchise?