Victoria Mahoney Announced As 'Episode IX' Second Unit Director

By: Dominic Jones

With Star Wars Episode IX slated to start filming in July the crew behind the scenes is starting to come together.  The film's second unit director was announced this week to be Victoria Mahoney.  Mahoney's previous credits include directing episodes of the TV series' Queen Sugar, Grey's Anatomy, and American Crime.  The news was announced on Twitter by A Wrinkle in Time and Selma director Ava DuVernay, who tweeted a photo of Mahoney alongside Episode IX director JJ Abrams with the caption, "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".

Mahoney also shared her excitement about her new gig, tweeting, "Catt's outta the bag. Thank you @ava for putting my name in the #StarWars #LucasFilm hat. Thank you #JJAbrams for inviting me on your ferocious ride. *This one's for the outliers, dreaming big--in small corners of the Earth. #MaytheForceBeWithYou".

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 pic.twitter.com/s689jv9I4u

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 17, 2018

Catt's outta the bag. Thank you @ava for putting my name in the #StarWars #LucasFilm hat. Thank you #JJAbrams for inviting me on your ferocious ride. *This one's for the outliers, dreaming big--in small corners of the Earth. #MaytheForceBeWithYou https://t.co/G6ckWzCIwt

— Vic Mahoney (@VictoriaMahoney) April 17, 2018

Mahoney will be the first women to direct any portion of a Star Wars project.  Her hiring marks a significant instance of increased behind the scenes representation on a Star Wars production, something that has been a topic of conversation in fandom lately.  The second unit director is typically responsible for shooting things like establishing shots, inserts, and stunts, while the first unit handles the scenes involving the main cast.

Star Wars Episode IX hits theaters on December 20th, 2019.  The film is directed by JJ Abrams with a script by Abrams and Chris Terrio.

Source: Ava DuVernay (Twitter)

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.