Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been a critical and commercial hit (as of right now, it’s closing in on $700 million worldwide), and you have to believe that director J.J. Abrams is going to be able to pick any movie he wants after this one. Unfortunately, whatever he does decide to make next, Star Wars Episode VIII isn’t going to be among the possibilities.

That’s because Rian Johnson has signed up to helm the next instalment in this new trilogy, but if Abrams’ friend and regular collaborator Greg Grunberg (who makes an appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as an X-Wing pilot) is to be believed, the filmmaker is beginning to regret his decision not to stick around in this Galaxy Far, Far Away.

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“He read it and said something he never, ever says,” Grunberg revealed in a recent interview. “He said, ‘It’s so good, I wish I were making it.’ He may have said something one time on ‘Lost’ with Damon [Lindelof], but I never hear him express regret like that.”

Daisy Ridley has also praised the screenplay in recent interviews, and while Abrams isn’t going to be directing Star Wars Episode VIII, he will at least be staying on as an executive producer. It’s also worth noting that while the main episodes have directors, plenty of spinoffs would no doubt benefit from the director’s touch, so he could still helm another Star Wars movie somewhere down the line if he chooses! Which one? Any would be great!