Films, News, Women Directors

Victoria Mahoney Makes History as Second Unit Director on Next “Star Wars” Film

Mahoney and J.J. Abrams: Ava DuVernay’s Twitter account

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:

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.


In Her Voice Podcast Episodes from This Week- May 12

Please check out the latest podcast episodes of In Her Voice Weekly News Brief on May 10- includes latest Writers Strike info Interview with Laurel Parmet- writer/director of The Starling Girl which...

Sophie Barthes’ Emilia Clarke-Starrer “The Pod Generation” Lands at Roadside Attractions, Vertical

Emilia Clarke says goodbye to the distant past in King’s Landing and hello to the near future in “The Pod Generation,” a sci-fi story that sees the Emmy-nominated “Game of...

“Eileen” Adaptation Lands at Neon, Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie Star

Thomasin McKenzie finds herself on another dangerous journey inspired by a glamorous, mysterious woman in “Eileen,” her latest big screen outing following “One Night in Soho.”...

Posts Search

Publishing Dates
Start date
- select start date -
End date
- select end date -
Category
News
Films
Interviews
Features
Trailers
Festivals
Television
RESET