Could Paramount Sue J.J. Abrams For Directing Star Wars 9?

J.J. Abrams ' return trip to the galaxy far , far aside to helmStar Wars : Episode IXcould contribute to Paramount Pictures seeking financial restitution from Disney . Earlier this month , Lucasfilm went through more manager dramatic play whenColin Trevorrow departedStar Wars 9due to originative difference . With a 2019 premiere planned , the studio had to move quickly to chance a replacing , andbrought Abrams back to the foldto bring the sequel trilogy home . Lucasfilm also hiredOscar - success Chris Terrioto co - save the screenplay with Abrams , anddelayedEpisode IXto December 2019to give the two supererogatory clock time to snap the story .

Whilesome were in bread and butter of this development , others were n’t too keen on the approximation of Abrams ( seen as a safe choice ) finishing what he started in 2015 with the $ 2 billion smash , The Force Awakens . you’re able to count Paramount chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos among those who are n’t a buff of Abrams ' latest vocation move , as it leave Paramount hold off at the altar despite a previously - agreed upon deal with the filmmaker .

In a written report on the matter inTHR , it ’s revealed Abrams has had a contract in place with Paramount ( which has release all his non - Star Warsendeavors ) since 2006 , now collecting roughly $ 10 million per year in overhead and ontogeny . Gianopulos ' predecessor Brad Grey was said to be"furious"when Abrams boarded theMillennium Falcon , and onceEpisode VIIwas completed , Grey renegotiated the term of the arrangement"obligating Abrams to aim his next moving-picture show for Paramount . “Obviously , with Abrams now the military man in charge onEpisode IX , that is not going to take place . Making matters bad for a studio apartment in despairing need of a hit , Abrams ' trade expires in June 2018 - right whenStar Wars 9is supposed tocommence principal photography , leaving Gianopulos scrambling for a solution .

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Lucasfilm ’s wooing of Abrams put Paramount in an awkward view . Despite being displeased by what transpirate , Gianopulos was essentially left with no option but to accommodate the decision . Theoretically , the administrator could have forced Abrams to accomplish his contract bridge and make a Modern movie for Paramount , but that lead the hazard of alienating Abrams and those in his ingroup . The film director has many protagonist in gamy places , including the living legend Steven Spielberg , Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy , and agency reps at CAA . The last matter Paramount needs at this point in clip is to antagonize well - know , well-thought-of filmmakers with a fight . Sources say Gianopulos did the best he could by"extracting some money from Disney"to compensate for the two year Abrams will be work onEpisode IX . regrettably , that sum of money was a one - time payment of less than seven figures - a feeble consolation trophy to say the least .

It ’s anticipate Paramount will seek to renew their contract with Abrams once it run out and hope for the good . His status as a jack of all barter ( writer / director / manufacturer ) name him a valuable good for any studio to have , and Abrams ' partnership with Paramount has been fruitful , revitalizing theMission : Impossiblefranchise ( which is still going potent ) and rebootingStar Trekfor the next generation of fans . IfEpisode IXis a home campaign , Abrams will be in even greater need and have no dearth of suitors after his services . Gianopulos and company might be unhappy with their prosperous boy , but they are show tractableness , and that has to count for something . Hopefully , once Rey ’s story is pure , Abrams can happily go back home to Paramount .