J.J. Abrams reluctantly made the move to England to shoot Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Disney, leaving his family behind in the US. It was reported that he had even added an expensive new wing to the Bad Robot offices in Los Angeles so he could complete post-production there, so the news that he wouldn’t return to helm the follow-up wasn’t exactly a surprise. Instead, Rian Johnson will direct Star Wars: Episode VIII.

It was thought that the Breaking Bad and Looper helmer might also go on to take charge of Star Wars: Episode IX too, but that might not be the case according to a new report. In fact, it’s said that there’s a “good chance” Abrams will return to take on the final instalment of this new trilogy of Star Wars movies.

Disney is said to be very happy with what they’ve seen of The Force Awakens so far, and the filmmaker has made his passion for the franchise clear in interviews despite being separated from his family to shoot it.

Latino-Review claims to have verified with four different sources that Abrams is the frontrunner to helm Star Wars: Episode IX, but that obviously doesn’t mean he will say yes when and if the studio approach him.

Johnson taking over the next instalment was met with a positive response from Star Wars fans, but it’s hard to not get excited over the prospect of Abrams returning. Either way, you have to imagine that Disney will wait and see how well The Force Awakens is received critically and commercially before making a decision.