The “Star Wars” franchise is finally getting a bit more diverse behind the scenes. Deadline confirms that “Yelling to the Sky” director Victoria Mahoney will be the second unit director on “Star Wars: Episode IX.” This is great news for Mahoney, but it’s also a historical moment in cinema: she will be the first black woman to direct in the course of the franchise’s 40-plus year history.
Ava DuVernay —who made history herself by being the first black woman to direct a $100 million film with “A Wrinkle in Time” — originally broke the news via Twitter:
Happy to share this historic news. A black woman directing stories in a galaxy far, far away. First unit director #JJAbrams. Second unit director @VictoriaMahoney. #StarWarsE9 #StarWars
— @ava
Bowing December 20, 2019, “Episode IX” will conclude the new “Star Wars” trilogy. J.J. Abrams will direct the pic. The series’ first two films, “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi,” were the top box office earners in 2015 and 2017, respectively. “Episode IX” will likely also be a massive hit.
Mahoney made her directorial debut with 2011’s “Yelling to the Sky,” which sees a 17-year-old girl struggling to survive after her family life implodes. Since then Mahoney has focused on TV directing. Her recent credits include “Seven Seconds,” “Power,” “Claws,” and “Queen Sugar.” Next, she’ll helm the pilot for CBS’ “Red Line,” which traces the aftermath of a white cop fatally shooting a black doctor. DuVernay is exec producing the project.
