JJ Abrams now regrets passing on directing ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’

Director J.J. Abrams is finding it harder than he thought to let go of the controls of the Millennium Falcon.

Perhaps because the experience on Star Trek Into Darkness wasn’t great, J.J. Abrams passed on the chance to direct a second Star Wars movie.

Greg Grunberg, Abrams’ longtime friend who plays Snap Wexley in “The Force Awakens”, revealed that bit of info to The Washington Post.

Lucasfilm Director/producer/screenwriter J.J. Abrams and his screenwriting partner Lawrence Kasdan on the set of “The Force Awakens“.

“He may have said something one time on Lost, with Damon [Lindelof, the co-creator], but I never hear him express regret like that”, Grunberg said.

These isolated observations certainly have not impacted box office for “The Force” in Italy, where the film has grossed over $10 million to date, in line with expectations, after scoring the country’s top December opening frame ever.

Filming is already underway on the follow-up, which picks up immediately after the cliffhanger that ends “The Force Awakens“.

“Star Wars: Episode VIII” is expected to bring the Force back to theaters on May 26, 2017 in the US, UK and Australia.

Though the Star Wars movies have generally presented epic battles between good and evil, the Vatican’s daily newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, apparently thinks the latest film’s villains are not evil enough, the Los Angeles Times reported.