Who Directed the Star Wars Films?
A complete guide to every director behind the Star Wars theatrical films — from George Lucas and Irvin Kershner to J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson and Gareth Edwards.Seven directors have made the eleven live-action Star Wars theatrical films. George Lucas directed four (Episodes I, II, III and IV). Irvin Kershner directed The Empire Strikes Back, Richard Marquand directed Return of the Jedi, J.J. Abrams directed Episodes VII and IX, Rian Johnson directed The Last Jedi, Gareth Edwards directed Rogue One, and Ron Howard directed Solo.
All Star Wars Directors at a Glance
| Film | Year | Director | Other Notable Films |
|---|---|---|---|
| A New Hope (Ep IV) | 1977 | George Lucas | THX 1138, American Graffiti |
| The Empire Strikes Back (Ep V) | 1980 | Irvin Kershner | RoboCop 2, The Eyes of Laura Mars |
| Return of the Jedi (Ep VI) | 1983 | Richard Marquand | Eye of the Needle, Jagged Edge |
| The Phantom Menace (Ep I) | 1999 | George Lucas | See above |
| Attack of the Clones (Ep II) | 2002 | George Lucas | See above |
| Revenge of the Sith (Ep III) | 2005 | George Lucas | See above |
| The Force Awakens (Ep VII) | 2015 | J.J. Abrams | Mission: Impossible III, Super 8, Star Trek (2009) |
| Rogue One | 2016 | Gareth Edwards | Godzilla (2014), Monsters |
| The Last Jedi (Ep VIII) | 2017 | Rian Johnson | Brick, Looper, Knives Out |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story | 2018 | Ron Howard | Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Rush |
| The Rise of Skywalker (Ep IX) | 2019 | J.J. Abrams | See above |
George Lucas (Episodes IV, I, II, III)
George Lucas is the creator of Star Wars and directed four of the eleven theatrical films. He wrote and directed A New Hope (1977), the original film that launched the entire franchise, then stepped away from directing for over two decades before returning for the entire prequel trilogy. His directorial style emphasised visual storytelling, mythological structure and technological innovation over conventional character drama. His four Star Wars films produced the highest-grossing entry in the franchise (A New Hope, adjusted for inflation) and the most commercially successful trilogy of the original three eras (the prequels collectively). Lucas founded Industrial Light and Magic specifically to achieve the visual effects required for A New Hope, establishing a company that transformed the entire film industry.
Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back)
Irvin Kershner was selected by George Lucas to direct The Empire Strikes Back, a decision that surprised many in the industry as Kershner was primarily known for smaller, character-driven dramas rather than large-scale blockbusters. Lucas specifically wanted a director who would focus on the emotional lives of the characters rather than the spectacle. The choice proved inspired. The Empire Strikes Back is consistently rated by critics and fans as the finest film in the saga, and Kershner's contribution to its success — particularly in drawing out strong performances from the cast — is widely credited. Kershner passed away in 2010 at the age of 87.
Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi)
Richard Marquand was a Welsh director best known for the thriller Eye of the Needle when Lucas selected him to direct Return of the Jedi. Marquand worked closely with Lucas throughout production, with Lucas taking a hands-on role as producer. The film concludes the original trilogy and delivers a satisfying emotional resolution to the Skywalker family arc. Marquand passed away in 1987 at the age of 49, making him the only Star Wars director to have died before the franchise's continuation under Disney.
J.J. Abrams (The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker)
J.J. Abrams was chosen by Kathleen Kennedy and Disney to direct The Force Awakens (2015), the first Star Wars film produced under the new ownership. Abrams brought a crowd-pleasing approach to the material, honouring the tone and visual language of the original trilogy while introducing new characters. The Force Awakens became the highest-grossing Star Wars film in history. Abrams returned to direct The Rise of Skywalker (2019) after the original Episode IX director, Colin Trevorrow, departed the project. The Rise of Skywalker proved more divisive, with critics and fans split on its choices, but it completed the sequel trilogy and concluded the nine-film Skywalker Saga.
Rian Johnson (The Last Jedi)
Rian Johnson came to The Last Jedi (2017) having made the acclaimed time-travel thriller Looper and the neo-noir Brick. His approach to Episode VIII was the most auteur-driven of the Disney era, deliberately subverting audience expectations and exploring themes of failure, legacy and the democratisation of the Force. The Last Jedi earned excellent critical reviews but was the most divisive of the Disney films among fans, generating intense debate that continued for years after its release. Johnson remains attached to a separate new Star Wars trilogy that has been in development since 2017, though no formal announcement of production has been made as of 2025.
Gareth Edwards (Rogue One)
Gareth Edwards directed Rogue One (2016), the first standalone anthology Star Wars film. Edwards brought a grounded, war-film sensibility to the material, emphasising the scale of the Empire and the human cost of resistance. His visual approach drew on classic war cinema to create a film that felt distinct from the saga episodes. Rogue One had a troubled production, with extensive reshoots supervised by Tony Gilroy, but the finished film is widely considered among the best of the Disney era. Edwards has spoken about the creative challenges of making a Star Wars film outside the episodic framework and the freedom that the anthology format allowed.
Ron Howard (Solo)
Ron Howard was brought in to complete Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) after original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were dismissed midway through filming. Howard oversaw extensive reshoots and delivered the finished film on schedule. His experienced hand stabilised a troubled production, though the film's box office performance fell short of expectations. Howard is one of Hollywood's most accomplished directors, with credits including Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and Rush. He has spoken positively about his experience working on Solo and the challenges of completing another director's partially filmed project.
Several notable directors were attached to Star Wars projects that were eventually made by others. Colin Trevorrow was announced as the director of Episode IX before departing the project, with J.J. Abrams returning in his place. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller began filming Solo before being replaced by Ron Howard. Josh Trank was set to direct an anthology film that was cancelled. Patty Jenkins was attached to Rogue Squadron, a planned theatrical film that was placed on indefinite hold as of 2023.
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