'Star Wars: Episode VIII' Director Announced: Rian Johnson - 'Looper,' 'Brick' & 'Brothers Bloom' Filmmaker To Follow J.J. Abrams With Dream Job

We can all rejoice because filmmaker Rian Johnson - the man behind Brick, The Brothers Bloom, and Looper- has been named director and writer of Star Wars: Episode VIII. Just as it did with hiring J.J. Abrams for Episode VII, Disney has decided to go with one of the most promising younger talents to helm an incredibly important project in the world of cinema.

Other reports claim the Looper director would helm Episode IX, but this has yet to be confirmed. Though the filmmaker will be involved in the final Star Wars movie, allegedly writing a treatment for the movie.

If this part of the news is true, an earlier rumor linking the final two Star Wars films together through a huge spoiler could be true. You can read more on this HERE!

With Johnson in charge of some of the writing duties (definitely for VIII and allegedly for IX), we should expect a darker turn in the eighth chapter of the franchise. Abrams has his dark moments, but not like Johnson.

Fans of the director will remember his 2005 indie hit Brick, which starred Joseph Gordon Levitt. This gritty homage to film noir made a name for Johnson and his follow-ups have not let audiences down.

2012's The Brothers Bloom was Johnson's take on an adventure film with two scam artist brothers working yet another scheme, with hilarious and tragic consequences. Just last year, he jumped into the world of sci-fi with Looper, which involved a dark world of time traveling hit men.

In other words: Johnson is the perfect director for a Star Wars movie. With Abrams establishing the new world of Star Wars in Episode VII, Johnson is the best director to handle the sequel.

What do you think of this big announcement? Let us know in the comments section below!

(via The Hollywood Reporter)