Take this with a grain of salt, as it hasn’t come direct from Lucasfilm/Disney just yet, but…

Deadline.com is reporting that Rian Johnson has been appointed to follow JJ Abrams, and not only direct, but also write the next two main-line Star Wars films, Episode VIII and Episode IX.

This continues the line of rising talent being brought to the franchise by Lucasfilm, with Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards and Chronicle’s Josh Trank being assigned to the “extended universe" Star Wars films.

As a huge fan of Rian Johnson’s other films - Brick, The Brothers Bloom and Looper - I can only hope these rumors are true. More as we have it.

UPDATE - The Wrap indicates he will just be writing the treatment for Episode IX.