Say what you like about Disney, but when they took over Lucasfilm, things started happening. The latest will be stunning news for fans of the galaxy far, far away. A new Star Wars trilogy is coming, although what story will be presented is yet unknown. From the official Star Wars website, it’s noted that the films will be “separate from the episodic Skywalker saga,” and will explore new characters that come from a part of the galaxy that “Star Wars lore has never before explored”.

Helming the project, or shepherding as Lucasfilm puts it, is Rian Johnson, the writer-director responsible for this year’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi,  as well as Looper and The Brothers Bloom. Much loved by the Last Jedi actors and studio alike, Johnson is set to write and direct the first part of the trilogy. When the first movie will debut remains a mystery right now.

Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, had high praise for Johnson. “We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi. He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career,” she noted. Kennedy also spoke about the blank canvas Johnson has available for the story, which must be quite a exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

Fans who would like to size up Johnson don't have to wait long, since Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theatres locally on 15 Dec 2017.