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Lawrence Kasdan is returning to the Star Wars franchise, as work begins on the two films after Star Wars: Episode VII

It’s been a busy month in the world of Star Wars movies. The cinematic franchise is, as you more than likely know, being resurrected, courtesy of Disney’s decision to buy Lucasfilm. Star Wars Episode VII, the first in a new trilogy, is being written by Michael Arndt, and we’re expecting a director announcement in due course (it’s more than likely that the helmer for the new Star Wars film has been chosen, but everyone is staying mum for the time being).

Disney has said, though, that it’s looking for new Star Wars movies every other year, with Episode 8 and Episode 9 set for release in 2017 and 2019 respectively. And it now seems as though writers have been found for those films.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that deals have apparently been closed for Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg to start work on Star Wars Episode 8 and 9. And these are encouraging appointments.

It’s terrific to see Lawrence Kasdan in particular on board. He has history with Lucasfilm, given that he wrote or co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi and Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Furthermore, Simon Kinberg is hardly a shabby choice either. Amongst his screenplays are those for X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes and X-Men: The Last Stand. He’s also penned the upcoming X-Men: Days Of Future Past.

There’s more on the story here. As we hear more on Star Wars, we'll let you know...

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Batman wrote:Since I already don't accept the validity of the Star Trek reboot I don't have that particular problem

Havoc wrote:HERETIC! BURN HIM!

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J.J. Abrams has officially decided to join Lucasfilm and, together, rule the galaxy.

Star Wars creator George Lucas, who is retiring and passing the franchise on, released a statement endorsing the choice: “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

The news broke yesterday, and was quickly confirmed by sources close to the project, which had previously tried to woo Brad Bird to the film. Abrams, who has been busy on the sequel to his reboot of Star Trek, had previously said he didn’t want to take on Star Wars, but ultimately was persuaded to change his mind.

Star Wars: Episode VII is expected in 2015, and was announced as part of The Walt Disney Co.’s $4.05 billion purchase of Lucasfilm in October.


The screenplay is being penned by Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning writer of Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3, while Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Return of the Jedi, and Simon Kinberg, who wrote Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the Robert Downey Jr. version of Sherlock Holmes, will serve as consultants.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy announced tonight. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

Abrams, whose other films include Mission: Impossible III and TV shows such as Lost, Alias, Felicity, and Fringe, offered no explanation for the reversal, but indicated his affection for Star Wars goes back to childhood — as it does for almost every kid from his generation. “To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”
Lucasfilm released statements from innovative artists who contributed to the previous Star Wars films, also endorsing the choice of Abrams.

Visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren, who worked with Abrams on Super 8: “He puts everything he has into his work. He totally immerses himself. He’s got such a visual eye, which is so important to the Star Wars films. It seems that a lot of the same things that were in George when he made the first Star Wars films are also in J.J. I think he’s going to fit into the other movies perfectly, with the energy that J.J. has. We’re kick-starting Star Wars again with dynamite. It will knock people out, including the people who get to work on it. I think it’s a great choice.”

Sound designer Ben Burtt, who worked with Abrams as sound designer and sound editor on Star Trek and Super 8: “J.J represents the next generation of filmmakers from those that were making Star Wars when I started. When he was a teen, he was a fan of Star Wars, and a great deal of his love for movies came out of his reaction of that first Star Wars film. You feel that he’s already invested so many years in it, and he’s going to propel it forward in a new way. In other words, you’re having a fan who has grown up and developed tremendous directorial skills finding himself at the steering wheel to take the franchise into the next stage. I feel like I’m there watching history turn over from one era to another.”

Sound editor Matthew Wood, who worked on Super 8 as well as the Star Wars prequels: “Working with him, it was so obvious to me that J.J. and I have the same nostalgic love of that era. Now we have someone from that generation who is going to be at the helm of the Star Wars franchise that I’ve known and worked on, so it’s a great circle. Just seeing what he did with Super 8 and capturing those moments, and knowing what was so special about that era, it’s going to speak to a new generation of audience as well.”