With the end of saga looming, the future of Star Wars is now being planned

Famously envisioned by George Lucas to span nine saga chapters, the Star Wars saga will reach what was once envisioned as the penultimate chapter later this year with Rian Johnson‘s The Last Jedi. Star Wars fans need not fret, however, as Disney CEO Bob Iger announced during a presentation at USC that the future of Star Wars is currently being planned with an eye towards the next 15 years.

“We’re starting talk about what could happen after Episode IX,” said Iger (via The Hollywood Reporter), “About what could be another decade-and-a-half of Star Wars stories.”

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When Iger says “Star Wars stories,” it’s a little unclear if he means that all post Episode IX films will receive the Rogue One subtitle A Star Wars Story or if he’s using a more general term and that we might see some kind of new saga begin.

Iger also reiterated that the recent passing of Carrie Fisher will not impact her role in The Last Jedi.

“We had to deal tragedy at the end of 2016,” he says. “Carrie appears throughout VIII. We are not changing VIII to deal with her passing. Her performance remains as it is in VIII. In Rogue One, we had some digital character. We are not doing that with Carrie.”

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper) and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcoming back cast members Mark Hamill, the late Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

The sequel is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski. Look for it to hit theaters December 15.

What do you want to see from the future of Star Wars? Would you like to see more Star Wars Story entries or would you like to see a new saga? Share your thoughts in the comments below!