Are Lawrence Kasdan, Simon Kinberg Being Courted To Script ‘Star Wars’ Pics 2 and 3?

Here’s some tantalizing dish to chew on before the Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings. After hiring Michael Arndt to script the first installment of the relaunch of George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise, I’ve heard Disney has approached Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg and I believe it is to get the ball rolling on the subsequent installments mapped out by Lucas. Both of the scribes in question have franchise experience.

Kasdan scripted two of the original Star Wars films in the 1980 The Empire Strikes Back and the 1983 follow-up Return of the Jedi. He also scripted Raiders Of The Lost Ark for Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Kinberg’s franchise work: X-Men: The Last Stand, Sherlock Holmes and the upcoming X-Men: Days Of Future Past which Bryan Singer will direct.

Disney’s $4 billion buy of George Lucas’ signature franchise certainly has stirred up passions from fans. I’m still feeling so let down by the last three films that I am not sure they can bring back the magic on the original trilogy, which was so groundbreaking for its time. But that time seems like a galaxy so far far away.

Back in the late 1970s, Star Wars set the bar for visual effects in science fiction. Doing that again is very difficult in the age of The Hobbit, The Dark Knight and Avatar. But Disney was certainly proven right when it spent the same money on Marvel, and already has made back much of that cash with The Avengers.

I made the mistake of mocking the choice of Kasdan on my indie comics Facebook group. Turns out that in the Church of Lucas, he's one of the major Saints.

The guy wrote Raiders Of The Lost Ark. He gets a lifetime pass....and my hand in marriage.

Fixed.

‘Star Wars': Rian Johnson to Write, Direct Episode VIII — But Not IX

Rian Johnson will write and direct the eighth “Star Wars” movie, inheriting the franchise from J.J. Abrams, according to two individuals with knowledge of the director's plans. Johnson will also write the treatment for the ninth movie, but he will not direct it.

Deadline Hollywood first reported that Johnson would write and direct the ninth movie, but both sources insist Johnson will only write the treatment for that installment.

Several studios covet Johnson given his facility with both story and special effects. Johnson directed a few shorts before making his directorial debut with “Brick,” a low-budget high school drama with the feel and tone of a film noir. It received sterling reviews, but was not a commercial hit.

Johnson and Gordon-Levitt reconnected seven years later with ”Looper,” a hit science fiction movie that grossed $176 million at the global box office. That movie established Johnson as a director capable of handling a bigger budget, and put him on the short list at most studios in town.

He also directed three episodes of “Breaking Bad,” including Ozymandias, considered one of the series’ best.

Disney and Lucasfilm's decision to hire Johnson to make the eighth “Star Wars” movie ensures that Abrams will direct the follow-up to “Episode VII,” which is currently shooting in London.

The companies have been aggressive in hiring talented young directors to shepherd every film in the franchise. They hired both “Godzilla” director Gareth Edwards and “Chronicle” director Josh Trank to make spin-offs from the core franchise.

Disney plans to release a new “Star Wars” movie every year starting in December of 2015. “Episode VII” will be the first movie released, and then the studio will alternate between spin-offs and new episodes of the main narrative.

Ram Bergman, who previously produced “Looper” and “Brick,” will also produce Johnson's “Star Wars” movie.

'Star Wars: Episode VIII' to Shoot at U.K.'s Pinewood

British government announces eighth episode of the space saga will be filmed at legendary studios.

The British government formally announced Monday that episode eight of the Star Wars franchise will be shot at Pinewood Studios just outside of London.

"Pleased to announce #StarWarsVIII will be filmed here in UK @PinewoodStudios – great news for @starwars fans & our UK creative industries," tweeted George Osborne, the U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, the British equivalent of the secretary of the Treasury. Osborne also trumped up the $152 million (₤100 million) inward investment and 3,000 jobs the production will bring.

The news comes on Star Wars Day (May the Fourth), but also coincidentally a bank holiday Monday in the U.K. Lucasfilm and Disney representatives couldn't immediately be reached. Pinewood declined to comment.

I made the mistake of mocking the choice of Kasdan on my indie comics Facebook group. Turns out that in the Church of Lucas, he's one of the major Saints.

'Star Wars: Episode VIII' Eyes Benicio Del Toro for Villain

Even though Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still more than five months away, casting is beginning for the follow-up chapter, Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Sources tell THR that Benicio Del Toro is a contender for a role, likely that of a villain, for the Lucasfilm/Disney movie, which will be directed by Rian Johnson.

Del Toro is said to have an offer, although whether a deal can be made remains unclear.

Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega are expected to return for the movie, as are certain legacy actors (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill).

The release date is May 26, 2017.

For some, Del Toro joining Star Wars makes sense as the actor, who tends to work in the world of dark and edgy indie, was introduced into the Disney family via his cameo as the Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy, from Lucasfilm’s sister company, Marvel Studios. (Both are owned by Disney.)

The actor next stars in Sicario, a drug drama from director Denis Villeneuve.

Benicio Del Toro on 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' Talks: "It Looks Like It’s Gonna Happen"

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still months from release, but an important part of the next film in the series — 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII — looks as if it could fall into place with Benicio Del Toro confirming that he's close to signing on.

"I can’t tell you much about it but I think that it might happen. It looks like it’s gonna happen, so I’m very excited," the actor said during a red-carpet appearance posted by Entertainment Tonight.

"I can’t talk too much about it. The script is hard to get. They told me they’ll cut my finger if I talk about it," he joked. While he won't share details about the character he'll play in the Rian Johnson-directed feature, he was more forthcoming about the impact the original movie had on him as a child.

"I saw the original one when it came out and it marked me," he said. "I was impressed by the film and by the characters and with the story and the message."

Presuming Del Toro does indeed join Episode VIII, it'll be his second blockbuster Disney role set in outer space; he appeared as the Collector in James Gunn's 2014 Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled for release May 26, 2017, marking the 40th anniversary of the franchise.

'Star Wars' to Return to Irish Island for 'Episode VIII' Shoot

A galaxy far, far away is returning to the Irish island of Skellig Michael, with local authorities approving future production for a Star Wars feature.

The Irish government announced Thursday that permission has been granted for Lucasfilm to return to the historical location, which has been a protected UNESCO world heritage site since 1996, provided no damage comes to the island's ecology or bird life. (Ecologists and specialist staff from the country's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the National Monuments Service will be on site during shooting to ensure that is the case.)

"Sceilg Mhichil (Skellig Michael) is one of our most dramatic and beautiful islands and it is very easy to understand why its stunning scenery has caught the attention of the makers of one of the world's biggest film franchises," said government official Heather Humphreys in a statement. "The return of Star Wars to Sceilg Mhichil is another win for Ireland and the Irish film industry, which is a growing and dynamic sector of our economy."

Humphreys added: "Specialist staff from my Department have been in discussions with Lucasfilm since March of this year in relation to a limited amount of filming, expected to last two to four days."

The agreement, initially reported by RTE, will allow Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII to follow this December's Star Wars: The Force Awakens in using the location. J.J. Abrams's revival of the space opera franchise filmed there last year.

Lucasfilm did not respond to a request for comment.

“Star Wars” fans will have to wait a little longer for “Episode VIII,” with Disney moving the release date from May 26, 2017, to Dec. 15, 2017.

The studio also shifted the date for the release of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” to May 26, 2017, previously set for July 7, 2017.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” continues to smash box office records since its release on Dec. 18. It’s currently the highest-grossing movie in U.S. history, and is also the third highest-grossing movie worldwide, with its current global cume standing at .88 billion.


“Episode VIII” is currently in pre-production and will begin principal photography in London next month. Rian Johnson is taking the reins from J.J. Abrams, who helmed “The Force Awakens,” to write and direct the upcoming sequel.