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Film director Rian Johnson to create new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy

On Jan. 8, 2013, screenwriter Rian Johnson attends the National Board of Review Awards gala in New York. The Walt Disney Co. has announced that Johnson will create a new trilogy for the Star Wars universe, greatly expanding the directors command over George Lucas ever-expanding space saga. (Evan Agostini / Invision/AP)
By Jake Coyle Associated Press
On Jan. 8, 2013, screenwriter Rian Johnson attends the National Board of Review Awards gala in New York. The Walt Disney Co. has announced that Johnson will create a new trilogy for the Star Wars universe, greatly expanding the directors command over George Lucas ever-expanding space saga. (Evan Agostini / Invision/AP)

NEW YORK – The Walt Disney Co. has announced that Rian Johnson will create a new trilogy for the “Star Wars” universe, greatly expanding the director’s command over George Lucas’ ever-expanding space saga.

Disney chief Bob Iger announced the plans Thursday in a call with investment analysts. Johnson is the director of the upcoming “Star Wars” installment “The Last of the Jedi.” Director J.J. Abrams is set to helm the following film, episode nine.

But a new trilogy will go beyond the original nine-film framework imagined by Lucas.

Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy says Johnson “will do amazing things with the blank canvas.”