During Comic-Con in July, there was a report that Star Wars: Episode IX was to be directed by Colin Trevorrow. At the time, it was suspected that he would make an appearance to confirm the news during the panel at Disney’s D23 Expo on Saturday. No such news came, and some had thought that Disney and Lucasfilm would let Rian Johnson, or even J.J. Abrams return to direct. But now we can confirm that Trevorrow is indeed directing Star Wars: Episode IX.

The announcement was made at the D23 Expo earlier today. While Trevorrow wasn’t able to make an appearance to talk about the project itself — heck Rian Johnson is still writing Episode VIII as we speak — the Jurassic World director was able to share some of this thoughts about taking on such an iconic franchise.

Check out what he had to say below.

We knew from the start that we would’t be getting any new footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the panel was more focused on the future of the franchise from its film in canon, to the spinoffs. Based on what we have seen, it looks like Lucasfilm is following Paramount’s formula for the Mission: Impossible success by hiring new directors for each installment. Again, the idea is that it would bring fresh new takes on an exciting and ever-growing story.

So while it still may be too early to talk about what we can expect to see in the film, producer and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy shared some of her thoughts on the hire:

“Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw “˜Safety Not Guaranteed,'” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of “˜Jurassic World’ speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”

Well, Kathleen Kennedy is married to Frank Marshall, who was a producer on Jurassic World, so seeing how they have a working and married relationship, he is bound to speak his praise on his experience working closely with Trevorrow.

Speaking of which, Trevorrow doesn’t see Episode IX as just another job to put on his filmography, and hopes to deliver on the high expectations.

Trevorrow states, “This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople. We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had””a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”

Disney D23 Press release:

STAR WARS EPISODE IX DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (August 15, 2015)””Today at D23, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set for release in 2019.

While production won’t begin for a few years, Trevorrow is heading to Lucasfilm this year to begin working with artists and his fellow Star Wars directors. “Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw “˜Safety Not Guaranteed,'” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of “˜Jurassic World’ speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”

Trevorrow states, “This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople. We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had””a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”

Star Wars: Episode IX will conclude the third trilogy of Star Wars movies that begins with Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18, 2015.

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