Via Express.co.uk:

Star Wars 9 director JJ Abrams had to be bought off Paramount Pictures to return for Episode 9, for a huge sum of money.

Having directed The Force Awakens, Abrams was said to be done with Star Wars, despite admitting he wish he’d stayed on for The Last Jedi after reading the script.

However recent weeks saw a shock turn of events where Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow was fired over creative differences and Abrams was brought in to replace him.

However it turns out getting Abrams back on board wasn’t as easy as it may have first seemed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker has been on a $10 million a year contract with Paramount Pictures since 2006.

Abrams has directed two Star Trek movies and Super 8 for Paramount, bringing in big box office success.

However for Lucasfilm to secure the director, Disney – which owns the rights to Star Wars – had to pay Paramount “a one-time shot of less than seven figures.”

Despite parachuting in to save Star Wars, it’s likely that Paramount will attempt a renewed deal with Abrams, who they consider “the next Steven Spielberg.”

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