‘Star Wars’ Composer John Williams May Stop After ‘Episode IX’: ‘That Will Be Quite Enough for Me’

There’s at least one member of the “Star Wars” galaxy who might not be saddling up for any further adventures after J.J. Abrams’ “Episode IX” wraps the Skywalker saga in 2019. NME reports (from a chat on California radio station KUSC) that longtime composer John Williams might be leaving the franchise after Abrams’ film arrives in 2019.

Williams told KUSC: “We know J.J. Abrams is preparing one [‘Star Wars’ movie] now that I will hopefully do next year for him. I look forward it. It will round out a series of nine, that will be quite enough for me.”

The film would be the ninth “Star Wars” feature for the lauded composer, as he’s previously scored the original film “A New Hope,” plus sequels “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” followed by prequels “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones,” “Revenge of the Sith,” and the latest installments “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi.”

Michael Giacchino scored the 2016 standalone film “Rogue One,” while John Powell is on deck to score this summer’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

Williams just turned 86, but he’s not exactly slowing down. Last year, he scored both “The Last Jedi” and “The Post,” and he’s currently on deck to score frequent collaborator Steven Spielberg’s “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara” and his long-rumored next Indiana Jones film.

He’s also one of Hollywood’s most highly decorated creators, having one 24 Grammys, five Oscars, and four Golden Globes. He’s also the second most-nominated Oscar nominee ever, clocking in at 51 nods (he’s just behind Walt Disney, with 59).

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