J.J. Abrams Seeking New Deal with Disney, May Offer “Course Correction” For Star Wars with Episode IX

There's no denying that wherever you fall on the spectrum of opinions about The Last Jedi, you likely have a ton of apprehension about how Episode IX will deal with the fallout of decisions made in that film. Will J.J. Abrams retcon any of the controversial decisions made by Rian Johnson, from Rey's parentage to the Porgs, or will he double down on those decisions and risk further alienating an already polarized fan base?

A new article surfaced on Variety this past weekend talking about Abrams' play for a new overall deal with a major studio that would allow him to work on any and all future projects at said studio. Disney is, of course, one of the big players looking to bring Abrams permanently into their fold, and the deal may hinge on how well Star Wars Episode IX does at reuniting the fan base...

He (Abrams)’s currently working on “Star Wars: Episode IX,” which has been billed as a course correction at Lucasfilm after spinoff films like “Solo” failed to meet the label’s high commercial expectations. He enjoys a close relationship with (Disney President Bob) Iger.

Now, there are two ways to read that phrase "course correction." The most likely way is that they want another billion-dollar-plus-grossing Star Wars adventure, though some may argue that they're hoping the film will "correct" any perceived errors made during the production of The Last Jedi.

However you read the phrase, it'll be interesting to see if Abrams' final Skywalker saga film will help to bring the fanbase back together or leave it permanently splintered. We'll find out when Star Wars Episode IX hits theaters in 13 months.