Not long ago we learned that director Rian Johnson asked J.J. Abrams to change the ending up a bit in Star Wars: The Force Awakens to help the story for The Last Jedi. Basically, Johnson Wanted R2-D2 to go with Rey to find Luke Skywalker instead of BB-8. 

Well, the director of Episode IX, Colin Trevorrow, asked a favor of Johnson with the film he was shooting. He asked Johnson to shoot an “extra thing” in The Last Jedi that would end up paying off in Episode IX. He doesn’t reveal what it was, but Trevorrow does talk about the open collaboration that the Star Wars filmmakers have with each other. While a guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the director had this to say:

“There was one little thing. It wasn’t an adjustment, it was just ‘Could you shoot this one extra thing while you’re in this place on this day?’ And he did, which was great. But, y’know, it’s part of the collaborative process that exists – everyone is in communication. There’s such a genuine want to get this right from everybody, and I think that one of the misconceptions is that there’s some kind of great corporate overlord that is dictating this story to everybody, and that’s what it’s going to be because that’s going to sell the most toys. The reality of it is that it’s a small group of people, but it’s actually, y’know, kind of large when you think about it – and none of them are corporate, all of them are creatives and all of them are genuinely, very sincerely, wanting to do the work of their lives in order to realize this.”

It’s pretty cool to see all these directors working together as they continue to build on the world and story that George Lucas started. These guys are all fans of the franchise like we are and they are trying to give us the best Star Wars films possible. So far they’ve done a great job! 

As for what Trevorrow might have asked Johnson to shoot, I wonder if it will have anything to do with Carrie Fisher‘s General Organa.  Something to help make a smooth transition of her not being in Episode IX.  

Episode IX is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 24, 2019.