Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace effort after a 22-year hiatus following "Star Wars" in 1977. "The Phantom Menace" was released in theaters on May 19, 1999, almost 16 years after the premiere of the previous "Star Wars" film, "Return of the Jedi". The film's premiere was extensively covered by media and was greatly anticipated because of the large cultural following the "Star Wars" saga had cultivated. It received mixed reviews; critics praised the visuals, action sequences, John Williams' musical score and some of the performances, but criticized the screenplay, characterization, and Ahmed Best and Jake Lloyd's performances (as Jar Jar Binks and Anakin Skywalker respectively).
Star Wars: Episode IX Trevorrow left the project due to creative differences; he was replaced by Abrams, who previously directed "The Force Awakens". Filming began in August 2018 at Pinewood Studios near London. "Episode IX" is set to be released on December 20, 2019 in the United States. Jimmy Vee and Greg Grunberg reprise their roles as R2-D2 and Snap Wexley, respectively, from previous films. Brian Herring returns to puppeteer . Dominic Monaghan and Matt Smith have been cast in unspecified roles. In October 2012, "Star Wars" creator George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilm, and with it the "Star Wars" franchise, to The