[EDITOR’S NOTE AND UPDATE: We’d like to thank all of our readers and fans that helped to make this Rian Johnson April Fool’s piece go viral. Please check out our follow-up article on the power of the Star Wars fandom HERE.]

In a stunning move this past weekend Disney announced it was bringing Rian Johnson in to perform re-shoots for Star Wars: Episode IX. The director had earned a lot of criticism for his controversial take on the Star Wars saga with The Last Jedi. Not everyone saw it that way, however, as he’s back to do mop-up work on Episode IX.

Rian Johnson
Image: Disney/Lucasfilm

“Rian Johnson did an extraordinary job with The Last Jedi,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told the press. “Likewise, we’re very happy with the work JJ [Abrams] has done with Episode IX. We just felt that the story needed a little more continuity with Episode VIII.” Abrams had confirmed back in February that he’d wrapped production on Episode IX. Now, however, it seems there’s more work to do.

Rian Johnson Returns to Star Wars

Rogue One
Rian Johnson directing ‘The Last Jedi’. Photo: Lucasfilm, ltd.

Rian Johnson returning to the main, episodic Star Wars saga is sure to irk many fans. His treatment of Luke Skywalker drew perhaps the biggest outcry over The Last Jedi. Mark Hamill himself has even been vocal in his criticism of the way Johnson wrote his character for the penultimate Skywalker saga film. It will be interesting to see what people have to say about this at the Episode IX panel at this month’s Star Wars Celebration.

At least one thing is certain when it comes to Rian Johnson and Episode IX. Thankfully, to paraphrase Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi:

ALMOST EVERY WORD OF WHAT I JUST SAID IS WRONG.

Sorry gang, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play a little April Fool’s Day joke. Rest assured, Rian Johnson is decidedly NOT returning to do anything with Star Wars: Episode IX. However, there is going to be an Episode IX panel at Celebration. (That part was true. Likewise, all links in this piece will bring you to our regular reporting). It’s during the panel that we expect to see the first footage from the film and also learn of its title.

We hope we didn’t give you too much of a shock this Monday morning, and that our little prank at least made you chuckle this April Fool’s Day. Stayed tuned here to That Hashtag Show, as later today we’ll return to bringing you all your regular Star Wars news as it happens.