LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Film director James Gunn attends a keynote discussion about building worlds across entertainment mediums during the Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 coliseum at the Novo LA Live on June 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
James Gunn
Hear me out on this one.
James Gunn knows how to create a galactic spectacle. Both installments of Guardians of Galaxy proved that. They also proved that he knows how to have fun. Star Wars is a layered, emotional story, but it is also a fun one.
Gunn could inject an appropriate does of humor into Episode IX, and Daisy Ridley has given Rey the perfect amount of sass for Gunn to work with.
More than that, Gunn has demonstrated the ability to successfully continue a story. He knows that bigger isn’t always better.
In focusing on the evolution of a story, and its characters, Gunn would fit right into the Star Wars ideals. The Last Jedi is set to focus on Luke’s change in heart, but will also put Leia’s arc into the spotlight. Episode IX would likely give Gunn plenty of room to continue down that route.