Star Wars Theory: Colin Trevorrow Was Fired From Episode IX Because He Wanted To Keep Luke Alive

Star Wars had quite a few shake-ups last year. Not only did Lucasfilm decide to fire original Solo: A Star Wars directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller over "creative differences," the studio also decided to part ways with Star Wars: Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow for the same creative reasons.

While reports regarding the split indicate that Lucasfilm let go of Trevorrow because of the problems with the director's work ethic and attitude, Star Wars fan Mike Zeroh speculates that the filmmaker was actually fired because he was hoping to keep Luke (Mark Hamill) alive in Episode IX.

"Colin Trevorrow was let go because he wanted Luke to live into Episode 9 and also to have Snoke with a back story in The Last Jedi," the Star Wars theorist posits. "The full reason why Johnson killed Luke is to free up space for the new characters… without any of the legacy characters pulling them backwards. He felt there would not be enough space for these characters with Luke Skywalker around. This is also what JJ Abrams wants and planned with Johnson for Episode 9."

Though this isn't the first time that fans have speculated that Trevorrow was hoping to keep Luke in the third chapter of Lucasfilm's sequel trilogy, the studio had long since set out a map for the legacy characters. The Force Awakens was meant for Han (Harrison Ford), The Last Jedi for Luke, and Episode IX for Leia (Carrie Fisher). Keeping Luke alive would have taken the attention away from Leia since the Jedi Master would be forced to face his estranged nephew again now that Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has become the new Supreme Leader of the First Order.

Star Wars: Episode IX hits cinemas December 20, 2019. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is currently available on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital HD.

Read: Mark Hamill Teases Star Wars Fans That Rey Is Actually Luke's Daughter