Fans were quick to offer up suggestions.
The Star Wars film franchise has suffered a disturbance in the Force as the director of Star Wars: Episode IX has left the blockbuster.
Jurassic World’s Colin Trevorrow was confirmed on Tuesday to no longer being taking on the ninth instalment of the Star Wars franchise.
And while some fans were questioning what had happened behind the scenes, others were urging Lucasfilm to offer up some suggestions.
The big one? That the new director of Episode IX will be a woman and/or someone from a minority background.
In a statement about Trevorrow’s departure posted on the Star Wars website, Lucasfilm said:
“Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX.
“Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ.
We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.”
It’s not the first director shakeup in the Star Wars franchise – or even the first one this year after Ron Howard replaced Phil Lord and Chris Miller on the Han Solo spinoff in June
But now fans are calling for more representation and inclusion among the Star Wars filmmakers, urging Lucasfilm to be more diverse when it comes to the director’s chair on Star Wars: Episode IX.
A fair number of POC and female directors might be available, @Disney.#justsayin "Episode IX" #starwars pic.twitter.com/edAeMBzAbc
— Dee Jackson ?️? (@DeeIbdulJackson) September 6, 2017
Look I just want a woman directing Star Wars in my lifetime ok
— C (@haegorgeous) September 5, 2017
Maybe it's time to end the women lead trilogy with a woman directing…preferably a WOC. #StarWars pic.twitter.com/hZ8bWfCsTF
— ferdosa @ TIFF (@atomicwick) September 5, 2017
So another @starwars film needs a new director. Here's an idea HIRE A WOMAN #StarWars
— thegamehack (@millygribben) September 6, 2017
Yo @Disney how bout we hire a woman to direct Star Wars IX now that Trevorrow's gone. I vote @ava or @PattyJenks
— Ryan Ellington (@ClutteredSkies) September 6, 2017
I think if LFL can find a woman and/or POC to direct, I'll be satisfied. Time to get inclusive in this here Star Wars!
— Ross Brown (@Wolfesghost) September 6, 2017
get a poc to direct next star wars ??
— #2yearsWithDay6 (@wcidmv) September 6, 2017
Really – its time @Disney set the bar higher for big budget franchise films – and its audiences – by hiring a woman director for @starwars ✨
— Gabby? (@gabbyismeantome) September 6, 2017
Hey STAR WARS, how about hiring a woman to direct Episode 9? Michelle MacLaren, one the best action directors alive, might be available.
— Matt Zoller Seitz (@mattzollerseitz) September 5, 2017
It comes after Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy told how they were looking at bringing in a female director “when the time is right”.
She previously told Variety:
“We want to make sure that when we bring a female director in to do ‘Star Wars’, they’re set up for success.
“They’re gigantic films, and you can’t come into them with essentially no experience.”
She added that the Lucasfilm team was looking to bring in talented women filmmakers who are in the early stages of their career – and they would bring them in “when the time is right”.
She said:
“We want to really start to focus in on people we would love to work with and see what kinds of things they’re doing to progress up that ladder now, and then pull them in when the time is right.”