Moviefone Editorial

Tag: j.j. abrams

  • Jon M. Chu to Direct ‘Hot Wheels’ Movie Adaptation

    (Left) Jon M. Chu arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Mattel's Hot Wheels logo. Photo: Mattel.
    (Left) Jon M. Chu arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Mattel’s Hot Wheels logo. Photo: Mattel.

    Preview:

    • Jon M. Chu will direct ‘Hot Wheels’.
    • It’ll be an action movie based on the toy car brand.
    • J.J. Abrams is aboard as a producer.

    While the idea of movies based on IP is satirized in shows such as ‘The Studio,’ it’s a behemoth that just keeps on rolling.

    Warner Bros. has had plans for a film based on the ‘Hot Wheels’ line of toy cars for a few years now, but it has finally hit a new gear as Deadline reports that ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu is now aboard to drive the project.

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    With J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot team among its producers, this one also comes from ‘Hot Wheels’ home Mattel, which will no doubt be hoping for a ‘Barbie’-level success on another of its products.

    Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, a writer-director duo whose credits include script input on ‘Creed II’ and making ‘They Cloned Tyrone’, will be on screenplay duty for the new action movie.

    Related Article: J.J. Abrams is Driving Development of a ‘Hot Wheels’ Movie

    What are Hot Wheels?

    Hot Wheels courtesy of Mattel.com.
    Hot Wheels courtesy of Mattel.com.

    In case the toy cars have somehow passed you by, here’s a quick primer…

    ‘Hot Wheels’ as a brand was conceived in 1968 by Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler as a cooler, more performance-oriented alternative to Matchbox cars, which dominated the diecast market at the time. (Mattel went on to acquire that brand four decades after its launch.)

    In addition to selling more than 8 billion vehicles worldwide, the brand has proved its influence in automotive and pop culture over the years via collaborations with global leaders in automotive, streetwear, fashion, luxury, entertainment, gaming, action sports and motorsports.

    The toys have also spawned a few animated home entertainment movies and series, but Chu’s movie will be the first live-action offering.

    As to the story that Taylor and Rettenmaier are cooking up? No details have been revealed beyond the action element and obviously scope for plenty of crazy car action.

    While Chu has mostly been focused on musicals and animation of late, he does have action bona fides having directed ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’.

    Despite the high profile and crossover appeal of the toys (not to mention the relatively straightforward concept of fast cars that just need a story built around them), outside of animation, ‘Hot Wheels’ has been a real development lemon, with filmmakers including Simon Crane, McG and ‘Fast & Furious’ veteran Justin Lin all trying to sit behind the director’s steering wheel.

    Sony and Legendary have both tried to push the pedal to the metal, to no avail, and this isn’t the first crack at the movie for Warner Bros. either, with a previous version produced by Joel Silver that similarly didn’t end up in theaters.

    Hot Wheels: the filmmakers speak

    (L to R) Composer Michael Giacchino and director J.J. Abrams on the set of 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.'
    (L to R) Composer Michael Giacchino and director J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo courtesy of Michael Giacchino’s Twitter.

    Here’s Chu’s comment on ‘Hot Wheels’:

    “Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed — it’s about imagination, connection and the thrill of play. Bringing that spirit to the big screen is an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to partner with Mattel Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Bad Robot to create an adventure that honors ‘Hot Wheels’ legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new.”

    Mattel Studios’ President and Chief Content Officer Brenner had this to say about the new movie:

    “Jon’s ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring ‘Hot Wheels’ to life. His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames. Paired with Juel and Tony’s compelling storytelling, this team is uniquely positioned to capture the heart, adrenaline, and spirit of Hot Wheels, a leading brand in car culture.”

    Finally, here’s Abrams:

    “We already felt incredibly lucky to collaborate with Mattel on this special film. Having Jon, Juel and Tony come aboard takes our excitement to a whole new level.”

    What else is Jon M. Chu working on?

    Jon M. Chu accepts the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Jon M. Chu accepts the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Chu’s recent output includes ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘In the Heights’ and particularly ‘Wicked’, which adapts the successful stage musical.

    ‘Wicked’ has soared since its release last November, earning more than $756 million worldwide and scoring 10 Oscar nominations, winning two for production and costume design.

    The second part of the story, titled ‘Wicked: For Good’ will be in theaters on November 21st, and anticipation is sky high.

    Besides the witchy story, Chu is also at work adapting Dr. Seuss story ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’ for Warner Bros. Animation (and Bad Robot, so clearly all involved are happy to work together again).

    On the development front, he is attached to sci-fi video game adaptation ‘Split Fiction’ (which has Sydney Sweeney planning to star and co-produce), and various other projects, including a long-held dream to make a ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ musical movie, plans for more ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ movies (which appear to be transforming into a TV series instead) and a ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ TV show.

    When will ‘Hot Wheels’ speed into theaters?

    Even with this encouraging new development, Warner Bros. has yet to announce a release date for this one –– which makes sense, given how many projects have been handed slots, only to linger in limbo like a car with a bad battery.

    'Wicked' director Jon M. Chu.
    ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu.

    List of Jon M. Chu Movies:

    Buy Jon M. Chu Movies on Amazon

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  • J.J. Abrams Producing ‘Hot Wheels’ Movie

    Mattel

    As video game adaptations soar at the box office, Hollywood is naturally hoping that toys could continue their own streak, as seen with the ‘Transformers’ franchise.

    Mattel, which has many of its products in development as potential movies is now looking to ‘Hot Wheels’ as a potential franchise, with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot company coming aboard to work on one with Warner Bros.

    ‘Hot Wheels’ has been around for 54 years now, becoming the #1 selling toy in the world, according to The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, with over 8 billion vehicles sold. The upcoming feature based on the vehicles is described as a high-throttle action movie, which will showcase some of the world’s hottest and sleekest cars, monster trucks and motorcycles.

    Despite the high profile and crossover appeal of the toys (not to mention the relatively straightforward concept of fast cars that just need a story built around them), outside of animation, ‘Hot Wheels’ has been a real development lemon, with filmmakers including Simon Crane, McG and ‘Fast & Furious’ veteran Justin Lin all trying to sit behind the director’s steering wheel.

    Sony and Legendary have both tried to push the pedal to the metal, to no avail, and this isn’t the first crack at the movie for Warner Bros. either, with a previous version produced by Joel Silver that similarly didn’t end up in theaters.

    From the sounds of the announcement, Abrams isn’t directing here, simply lending the Bad Robot name to it and likely helping find the filmmakers to get it going.

    And even if these Wheels stall again, Mattel also has ‘American Girl’, ‘Barbie’, ‘Magic 8 Ball’, ‘Major Matt Mason’, ‘Polly Pocket’ and ‘’Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots’ as just some of the toys in various stages of adaptation. ‘Barbie’ is, of course, the most advance, in production now with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling leading an eclectic cast.

    “As the global leader in car culture, ‘Hot Wheels’ has been igniting the challenger spirit in auto enthusiasts for generations,” says Mattel Films Executive Producer, Robbie Brenner in a statement. “Fans of all ages are now in for the ride of their lives with the incredible talent of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot joining us alongside Warner Bros. Pictures to transform ‘Hot Wheels’ legendary IP into a thrilling story for the big screen.”

    “Growing up, ‘Hot Wheels’ were more than just cars, they were vehicles for our imaginations,” adds Warner Bros.’ Peter Dodd. “Today, we at Warner Bros. are thrilled to bring that imagination to the big screen with Robbie Brenner and the creative team at Mattel along with the ingenious minds of J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella and the team at Bad Robot.”

    “Before ‘Hot Wheels’ became the global household name it is today, it was the dream of [Mattel co-founder] Elliot Handler, who was inventing and building toy cars at home in his Southern California garage,” enthuses Bad Robot’s Hannah Minghella. “It’s that imagination, passion, and risk-taking spirit that we want to capture in this film.”

    Hot Wheels
    Hot Wheels courtesy of Mattel.com.

  • J.J. Abrams Plans U2 Series

    Bono and The Edge
    (L to R) Bono and The Edge from U2.

    Just because he’s got approximately 425 projects in different stages of development around Hollywood, J.J. Abrams isn’t letting that stop him from adding to the list. He’s now in the early stages of developing a show about rock icons U2.

    Yes, love them for their many hit songs and huge-selling albums or hate them for that one time the put a record on everyone’s Apple devices, U2 are one of the most recognizable musical acts in the world, and they’ve certainly been around long enough to generate enough stories that a show about them could work.

    Anthony McCarten, who has form with writing about both real-life people and musical acts (his resume includes movies about Stephen Hawking, Winston Churchill and, surely the most relevant here, Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’), is on board to write the scripted series.

    Netflix is partnered with Abrams’ Bad Robot company on the show, which is mostly under wraps for now. We don’t, for example, even know what it’ll be called, let alone what the narrative focus is.

    J.J. Abrams Star Wars set
    J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo Credit: Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair.

    All that The Hollywood Reporter has heard is that U2 themselves are expected to be involved and will give their blessing, and, of course, getting the rights to their back catalogue is of vital importance for a show like this to succeed.

    For those thinking, “Who2?”, a short history… U2 — fronted by Bono, lead guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. — was formed in 1976 out of Dublin, Ireland, and has released 14 studio albums. The often-political band has sold more than 170 million records worldwide, taking home a record 22 Grammys. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. With albums including The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby and, more recently, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, they have regularly made Best Of lists.

    In that time, they’ve overcome creative struggles, controversy and criticisms. Lead singer Bono made headlines this week when a poem he wrote about the conflict in Ukraine was read to US lawmakers.

    Musical biopics have been big in recent years, including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Rocketman’, and this year’s upcoming ‘Elvis’, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Madonna is still looking for someone to portray her in the movie she’s developing, while Weird Al Yankovic already found someone – Daniel Radcliffe will bring the Accordion-playing parody pro to screens.

    Perhaps the biggest surprise about this series is where it’ll end up – Abrams has a big deal with WarnerMedia, and you might think it would have found a home at HBO.

    The show is still at a very early point, so if you’re on edge, and desire to know when it might show up on Netflix, we’re afraid you’ll just have to wait until the end of the world. Or until the streaming service makes an announcement. We know, it’s not the sweetest thing.

    J.J. Abrams shooting Star Wars
    J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo Credit: Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair.

  • Chris Pine and Co. Back for New ‘Star Trek’ Movie

    (L to R) Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho and Zoe Saldana in 'Star Trek' (2009). Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho and Zoe Saldana in ‘Star Trek’ (2009). Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

    Ever since ‘Star Trek Beyond’ failed to launch at the box office, the big screen flagship of the ‘Trek’ franchise has been lingering in Spacedock, unsure which course to chart. Now, though it appears that Paramount is ready to engage the warp engines again, with Chris Pine and the rest of the current crew busy making deals to return.

    The news comes as part of Paramount’s Investors Day presentation, in which it unleashed enough news to choke the Doomsday Machine, including an early season 2 renewal for the ‘Halo’ TV series (which is only just about to debut), lots of future ‘SpongeBob’ movies and more ‘South Park’.

    Yet word on a return for ‘Star Trek’ crew who first boarded the USS Enterprise in J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot of the franchise is perhaps the most exciting revelation.

    It looked for a while as though Pine’s Captain Kirk, along with Zachary Quinto’s Spock, Zoe Saldana’s Uhura, Karl Urban’s Dr. McCoy, John Cho’s Sulu and Simon Pegg’s Scotty might never return to the final frontier, but Paramount is now going at full speed to put them on a new mission.

    Abrams himself made the announcement. “We are thrilled to say that we are hard at work on a new ‘Star Trek’ film that will be shooting by the end of the year that will be featuring our original cast and some new characters that I think are going to be really fun and exciting and help take ‘Star Trek’ into areas that you’ve just never seen before,” he said. “We’re thrilled about this film, we have a bunch of other stories that we’re talking about that we think will be really exciting, so can’t wait for you to see what we’re cooking up. But until then, live long and prosper.”

    (L to R) Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine in 'Star Trek' (2009). Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine in ‘Star Trek’ (2009). Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

    Yet Abrams won’t – as with ‘Beyond’ – be directing (though he’ll produce via his Bad Robot Company). Instead, ‘WandaVision’s Matt Shakman has that job, and he’ll work from a script by ‘Avatar 2’s Josh Friedman and Shakman’s ‘WandaVision’ colleague Cameron Squires. Their screenplay will be based on an earlier draft by Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

    As for what’ll happen in the movie? That’s being kept behind the shields for now, though it’s unlikely to be the rumored time-travel concept that would have seen Kirk meet his dad, played (briefly) in Abrams’ original movie by Chris Hemsworth. Actors’ pay deals reportedly scuttled that idea, though it could be resurrected. (Does anyone have a Genesis device to hand?)

    And while they appear to be drifting in a nebula for now, the planned expansions of the ‘Trek’ movie universe by ‘Fargo’s Noah Hawley and cult director Quentin Tarantino are still out there, waiting for their chance.

    ‘Star Trek’s fortunes have certainly turned around of late, with the TV side of things expanding exponentially, and now some positive forward movement on the theatrical end. Of course, any new movie will have to deal with the tragic loss of Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the previous three adventures, and hopefully the team will go the respectful route and have his character off on another mission rather than re-cast.

    Still, with luck, a late 2022 shooting start means we could have a new ‘Star Trek’ movie beaming into theaters by the end of 2023. That’s news to even make Spock giggle.

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  • Apple Officially Unveils its TV Service, Apple TV+

    Apple Officially Unveils its TV Service, Apple TV+

    Apple TV

    At a splashy event at its campus in Cupertino, California on Monday, Apple finally unveiled its standalone TV service, including the official name and several of the big projects it will house. Along with those answers, though, there remained some key questions.

    During the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the service will be called Apple TV+, and it will launch sometime this fall (an exact debut date is TBA). The subscription service will be available to all — and is not exclusive to Apple devices — in more than 100 countries; it will be ad-free, and most of its content will be downloadable.

    No pricing structure has been revealed yet.

    Many major stars were on hand to introduce their projects for the service, including Steven Spielberg (who’s producing a revival anthology of “Amazing Stories”); Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell (who are starring in a morning TV drama that now has an official title: “The Morning Show”); Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard (starring in sci-fi series “See,” about a world in which sight no longer exists); and Kumail Nanjiani (“Little America,” which tells true stories of immigrants from across the world who move to the United States).

    Even Big Bird made an appearance, introducing “Helpsters,” from the makers of “Sesame Street,” which will teach preschoolers about coding skills. And J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles were on hand to tout “Little Voice” (Bareilles performed the titular theme song), a series about a young woman finding her voice through music.

    Apple saved the biggest surprise for last, bringing out Oprah to announce that she’s reviving her immensely popular Book Club as a new series for the service. She’s also filming two documentaries for Apple TV+, one about sexual assault and one about mental health.

    One of the biggest gaps in the presentation, however, was the lack of clips — or even key art — from any of the announced projects, aside from a quick sneak peek package that spliced together a few seconds from each series. Instead, Apple offered a slick video introducing the service, featuring talking heads from several of the above creators, as well as collaborators including Sofia Coppola, M. Night Shyamalan, Ron Howard, Octavia Spencer, Hailee Steinfeld, Damien Chazelle.

    Stay tuned for additional Apple TV+ details as Apple unveils them.

  • Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams Reunite for Apple Limited Series

    Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams Reunite for Apple Limited Series

    HBO

    Yet another star-studded project is heading to Apple’s upcoming streaming service, and it features the reunion of one of our favorite TV pairings.

    Jennifer Garner is re-teaming with her “Alias” creator, J.J. Abrams, for a new limited series for Apple. Variety reports that the project is called “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends,” based on the 2017 memoir of the same name by Amy Silverstein, and “follows a group of women who supported Silverstein as she waited for a second life-saving heart transplant.”

    Garner is set to star, and Abrams will produce through his Bad Robot banner, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Television. Karen Croner (“Admission,” “One True Thing”) is writing and producing the adaptation, and previously adapted “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” which also starred Garner. Silverstein will also serve as a producer.

    Though the circumstances surrounding the launch of Apple’s streaming service are still up in the air, that hasn’t stopped the tech giant from acquiring some top-tier talent. Other projects in the works include a morning show drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell; a fantasy series featuring Jason Momoa; a Chris Evans crime drama; and new work from Damien Chazelle, M. Night Shyamalan, and the goddess of TV herself, Oprah.

    No word yet on when or how we’ll see all this content. Stay tuned.

    [via: Variety]

  • Mark Hamill Compares ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Spoiler Precautions to the CIA

    Mark Hamill Compares ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Spoiler Precautions to the CIA

    Lucasfilm

    A lot has changed since Mark Hamill starred in the first “Star Wars” movie in 1977 and now. For one, spoilers are a pretty big deal.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about his History drama series “Knightfall,” Hamill teased a future, high-profile project that he can’t announce yet. And that led him to describe the security measures that writer/director J.J. Abrams has employed for “Episode IX.”

    “You know how it is these days, every time you sign NDAs. I remember back when I read the first ‘Star Wars’ [script], I was like, ‘Wow, that’s the goofiest thing I’ve ever read.’ I gave it to my best friend to read, and I said, ‘What do you think of it?’ He said, ‘It’s really wild, it’s crazy, can I give it to Meredith?’ ‘Sure, go ahead.’ It went around to all my friends,” Hamill reflected.

    “Of course back then nobody cared. Nowadays it’s like working for some secret deep state government organization, like being in the CIA. They’re going to send rewrites over to Prague on this dark red paper that gives you a headache to read.”

    Abrams used that dark red paper for scripts while filming “The Force Awakens.” The darkness of the paper makes it nearly impossible to photocopy. However, the director has upped the security even more when it comes to “Episode IX” scripts.

    “They’re going to fly [the rewrites] over with somebody from the company,” Hamill noted. “They’re going to come and give it to me and wait for me to read it before I give it back. So no pressure! You can’t even keep it overnight. But that’s the way it is now.”

    After the events of “The Last Jedi,” fans are undoubtedly very curious about the role Hamill will play in “Episode IX.” Will he appear as a Force Ghost? In a flashback? Well, if Abrams and team have their way, they won’t find out until the movie hits theaters next December.

  • Oscar Isaac Says ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Honors Carrie Fisher in ‘A Really Beautiful Way’

    Oscar Isaac Says ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Honors Carrie Fisher in ‘A Really Beautiful Way’

    Lucasfilm

    The sudden death of actress Carrie Fisher almost two years ago left a gaping hole not only in Hollywood, but in a galaxy far, far away, as the “Star Wars” saga lost one of its brightest stars. While Fisher’s princess-turned-general Leia was meant to play an integral role in the upcoming “Episode IX,” she’ll have to take somewhat of a backseat, appearing only in previously unused footage unearthed by director J.J. Abrams.

    But according to Oscar Isaac, who plays Resistance fighter pilot Poe Dameron in the new trilogy, and who shared many scenes with Fisher/Leia, the new installment still finds a way to properly honor the late actress. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Isaac said that the film’s set had “a looseness and an energy” that was very much in keeping with Fisher’s fun-loving spirit, and though she wasn’t physically present, her presence was very much felt.

    “The story deals with that quite a bit,” the actor told The Daily Beast of Fisher’s loss. “It’s a strange thing to be on the set and to be speaking of Leia and having Carrie not be around. There’s definitely some pain in that.”

    He added, “It deals with the amazing character that Carrie created in a really beautiful way.”

    We’d expect nothing less from this cast and crew. While we’re not entirely emotionally prepared to say a final goodbye to Fisher, it’s comforting to know that it will be the sendoff she deserves.

    “Star Wars: Episode IX” is slated to open on December 20, 2019.

    [via: The Daily Beast]

  • Lena Dunham to Adapt Syrian Refugee Story For Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams

    HBO

    “Girls” creator Lena Dunham is teaming up with two of Hollywood’s biggest names. She’s has been tapped by co-producers Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams to adapt a Syrian refugee story.

    Dunham will pen a script version of Melissa Fleming’s 2017 nonfiction book “A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee’s Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival.”

    It tells the true story of Doaa Al Zamel, a Syrian mother of two small children fleeing Egypt by boat. They’re shipwrecked along the way and Al Zamel kept herself and her kids alive for days in open water with only a inflatable water ring for support.

    The film is in development at Paramount Pictures with Abrams’ Bad Robot and Spielberg’s Amblin Partners producing.

    Dunham is currently using her acting, writing, and producing skills in various projects. She is filming a role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and she co-created HBO’s current comedy “Camping” with “Girls” partner Jenni Konner.

  • Greg Grunberg Joins ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

    Greg Grunberg Joins ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

    Lucasfilm

    J.J. Abrams is bringing another longtime collaborator into the fold for “Star Wars: Episode IX,” with Greg Grunberg joining the starry cast.

    Deadline reports that Grunberg will once again be appearing in this new trilogy of films, following his role as X-Wing pilot Snap Wexley in 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” While it appeared as if that character didn’t survive the battle above D’Qar, it’s not entirely clear if Grunberg will be reprising that role, or playing another character (perhaps a CGI alien?) entirely.

    Fans who’ve been following Abrams’s career since the beginning are no doubt familiar with Grunberg, who’s appeared in almost every single project Abrams has put out over the years. He starred in the TV series “Felicity” and “Alias,” appeared as the doomed pilot of Oceanic flight 815 in the “Lost” pilot, and also had roles in Abrams flicks including “Mission: Impossible III” and “Star Trek Beyond.”

    Grunberg is just the latest actor from Abrams’s early work to follow him to a galaxy far, far away. Keri Russell — who starred on “Felicity” and in “M:I III” — and Dominic Monaghan — who starred on “Lost” — were also recently announced as part of the sprawling ensemble.

    “Episode IX” will close out this new trilogy, as well as put to rest the story of the Skywalker family. We’ll be eagerly awaiting its arrival, slated for December 20, 2019.

    [via: Deadline]