According to numerous reports, Star Wars bosses have recruited Rian Johnson to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII, and write the treatment for Episode IX.
JJ Abrams is still knee-deep in the first days of shooting for Episode VII, but time's ticking on Episode VIII's release, which will be just one year behind VII.
Not a clue who he is? Fear not - we've rounded up six essential facts below.
1. He's responsible for 3 episodes of 'Breaking Bad'
Rian worked on three episodes of the hit AMC show, with two of them often considered to be among the series' all-time greatest. Not bad going. His first was Season 3, Episode 10: 'Fly'; focussing on Walt's (Bryan Cranston) guilt over his wrongdoings and the death of Jane (Krysten Ritter). It's considered the 'smallest' episode the show ever did, and one of the best. Next, he did 'Oxymandias', the 14th ep in the fifth season. which Vince Gilligan (creator) calls the "biggest" episode of the whole series, with several storyline threads coming together.
Rian Johnson (WENN)
2. He wrote and directed 'Looper'
The movie was a critical hit, winning a handful of minor awards for the quality of the original screenplay.
3. He wrote and directed 'Brick'
Before Looper, Johnson also worked with Joseph Gordon-Levitt on this thriller back in 2005. It has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the Sundance Film Festival.
4. He didn't think he'd even get considered for Star Wars
He told Digital Spy in 2013: "I don't think I'm on those sorts of lists. On the one hand, it's Star Wars, it would be very hard to say no to. On the other hand, for me, I'm really enjoying just writing my own stuff, and right now that's what I'm doing... I don't think it's a problem that I'll have to deal with!"
Rian Johnson (WENN)
5. One of his favourite movies is very, very different to Star Wars: Woody Allen's Annie Hall.
"It moved me in a way that very few other films have moved me," he admitted. "That's something that, I pray to God, if I am able to keep making movies, I can only hope, twenty years down the line maybe, I'll be able to approach."
6. He's a keen folk singer and banjoist
Will we see either skill applied in Star Wars? No, probably not.
Star Wars Episodes I - VI: In Order Of Box Office Gross
6. RETURN OF THE JEDI: It's No5 in the US-only rankings, but sixth (and last) in the worldwide takings. ROTJ was released on May 25, 1983 as the finale to the original trilogy, and it grossed $475,106,177 worldwide- making it the 130th highest-grossing film of all time.
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