Godzilla director Gareth Edwards is officially attached to direct the first of the upcoming Star Wars spin-off films! The screenplay will be by Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli). While it isn’t known yet precisely which one he will helm, The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger recently confirmed that “at least three” are in development.
Referred to in the past as “origin stories“, these features are to release dates that alternate with the Saga entries, so they will arrive in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Although previous rumors have suggested that these adventures will follow Han Solo, Boba Fett, Yoda or something called Red 5, nothing specific has as of yet been confirmed. All we know is that Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are involved in the screenplays.
The official press release is below:
In addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney have begun development on multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga. Gareth Edwards will direct the first stand-alone film, with a screenplay by Gary Whitta. The film is due out December 16, 2016.
Gareth Edwards blazed into the filmmaking forefront with his acclaimed work on Monsters, a film he wrote, directed and served on as cinematographer and visual effects artist. The skill and vision readily apparent in Monsters earned him the high-profile spot directing this year’s smash hit Godzilla.
“Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – join the Rebel Alliance! I could not be more excited & honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm, said Edwards.
Gary Whittas screenwriting credits include 2010s The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. He is also well known as a journalist and editor in the video game industry, as well as part of the BAFTA award-winning team on Telltale Games adaptation of The Walking Dead.
Whitta states, “From the moment I first saw the original movie as a wide-eyed kid, Star Wars has been the single most profound inspiration to my imagination and to my career as a writer. It is deeply special to me,so to be given the opportunity to contribute to its ongoing legacy, especially in collaboration with a film-maker as talented as Gareth,is literally a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself.”
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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