The 49-year-old filmmaker has won critical and commercial acclaim for directing 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' and according to his friend, Greg Grunberg, JJ is sorry he passed off duties for the next two sequels to Rian Johnson and Colin Trevorrow.

Gre, who plays X-Wing pilot Snap Wexley in 'Star Wars’, the Washington Post: "He read [the next script] and said something he never, ever says. He said, 'It's so good, I wish I were making it.' He may have said something one time on 'Lost' with Damon [Lindelof], but I never hear him express regret like that."

Despite his regret at passing off directing duties, JJ remains on board as executive producer.

Meanwhile, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has become the fastest film to earn $1 billion at the box office.

The hit sci-fi film - which raked in an estimated $517 million on its opening weekend - rocketed to the staggering amount in just 12 days, with Walt Disney Co. confirming the sequel reached the milestone over the festive holiday weekend.

What's more, the space opera has yet to come out in China - ranked as the world's second-largest movie market - and will not open in the Far East country until January 9.