Victoria Mahoney is making history.
She will be the first African American female to direct a Star Wars film. Mahoney is the second unit director for the upcoming ninth Star Wars Film, Star Wars Episode IX.
Mahoney is just beginning to get her feet wet. She made her directorial debut in 2011 with Yelling into the Sky. Since then she’s directed television shows. One in particular, Queen Sugar where she got to work side by side with good friend Ava DuVernay.
DuVernay was first to congratulate Mahoney on her new gig!
“Happy to share this historic news,” DuVernay wrote on Twitter. “A black woman directing stories in a galaxy far, far away. First unit director #JJAbrams. Second unit director @VictoriaMahoney. #StarWarsE9 #StarWars.”
Mahoney then thanked DuVernay for helping in getting the role.
“Catt’s outta the bag. Thank you @ava for putting my name in the #StarWars #LucasFilm hat,” she gushed over Twitter. “Thank you #JJAbrams for inviting me on your ferocious ride. *This one’s for the outliers, dreaming big–in small corners of the Earth.”
Now what exactly is a second unit director? A second unit director is responsible for action sequences, establishing shots, pick ups, and cutaways.
Mahoney will also direct an upcoming super hero project and the Freeform’s British remake of Misfits
Star Wars Episode IX is set to release Dec. 20, 2019.
