History has been made in the Star Wars universe as a Black woman will help direct Star Wars Episode IV.
JJ Abrams has hired Victoria Mahoney as his second unit director for the next main installment of the Star Wars series.
Mahoney would be the first woman of color to serve as director on any of the Star Wars movies, E! News reports.
Director Ava DuVernay announced the news on 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 pic.twitter.com/s689jv9I4u
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 17, 2018
Mahoney is no stranger to working behind the camera. She’s served as director for episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Power and DuVernay’s Queen Sugar.
She took to Twitter to thank The Wrinkle in Time director an expressed her excitement for joining episode IV.
“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,” she tweeted.
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— Crown Vic (@VictoriaMahoney) April 17, 2018
Second-unit director is responsible for filming stunts, getting establishing shots, inserts and cutaways.