AceShowbiz -

J.J. Abrams officially won't helm "Star Wars Episode IX". He told Entertainment Weekly, "No, I'm not going to direct Episode IX, as much as I am deeply envious of anyone who gets to work with this group of people on the future movies."

"Episode IX" is planned for a 2019 release. In the meantime, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" directed by Abrams will arrive on December 18 this year. It will be followed by "Rogue One" helmed by Gareth Edwards on December 16 the next year and "Star Wars Episode VIII" directed by Rian Johnson in 2017.

"The Force Awakens" will introduce the Knights of Ren and the First Order. Adam Driver stars as Kylo Ren while Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher return as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia. Other cast members include John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Gwendoline Christie.

The Empire has morphed into a junta known as The First Order, while X-Wing pilots like Isaac's Poe Dameron now fly for a splinter group known as the Resistance. Princess Leia has come into possession of the lightsaber once possessed by her father, Darth Vader, and later lost by Luke when Vader separated him from his arm during that "join me" duel in The Empire Strikes Back.