Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow signs on for Episode IX

Lucasfilm has announced that Colin Trevorrow has been hired as the director for Star Wars Episode IX, due in 2019.

Star Wars Episode IX will be the third instalment and conclusion of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following on from upcoming The Force Awakens, out this December.

Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, has described Colin Trevorrow, 38, as "an incredible talent" and said she has been looking forward to working with him since 2012's Safety Not Guaranteed. "The power of that film paired with the enormous success of Jurassic World speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled film-maker", she said.

Jurassic World, itself the foundation for a new trilogy in the Jurassic Park franchise, has taken over $1.5 billion at the box office worldwide, and Trevorrow has indicated that helming the ninth episode of the Star Wars saga is not just another job, saying that the role "is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, film-makers, artists and craftspeople".

Trevorrow's Star Wars Episode IX will release in 2019 and follow in the footsteps of JJ Abrams' The Force Awakens, and Rian Johnson's episode VIII in 2017.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on 18 December 2015.