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'Empire Strikes Back' & 'Sherlock Holmes' Writers Taking on 'Star Wars'

by Ethan Anderton
November 20, 2012
Source: Heat Vision

It's still hard to believe that this is all really happening. While we're still waiting to hear who will direct Star Wars: Episode VII (Brad Bird is the most recent name out of the running), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt has already turned in a 40-50 page treatment for the whole new trilogy and is supposed to write Episode VII on his own. Now we have word on who will script Episode VIII and Episode IX. Heat Vision has word Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan and Sherlock Holmes writer Simon Kinberg will write the other two sequels, but it's not clear who will write which one.

Kasdan is a fine choice as he wrote both Empire Strikes Back (the best Star Wars film in my opinion) and Return of the Jedi, not to mention the story for the Shadows of the Empire video game back in the 90s. His work with George Lucas also spans to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and he has three Oscar nominations in his past including The Big Chill. Meanwhile, Kinberg is less versed with Star Wars, but no strange to blockbusters. He produced X-Men: First Class and is writing the sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past, and has also written Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jumper and X-Men: The Last Stand (the last two make us leery.

In addition, the two would also produce the films. That's a pretty good team of writes for new Star Wars, but now we need a director to kick-off the franchise just right. If it's not Brad Bird, Steven Spielberg or J.J. Abrams then we're not sure who our top choice is now. Jon Favreau is so passionate about the saga, but he might not be the best for the job. And we're still fond of anyone else on our list of ten directors for the job who haven't taken themselves out of the running.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

Nick

I think it's obvious Kasdan will/should write the middle film.
Me Again

quite possibly the best and worst news so far. Kasdan is AWESOME! A true fanboy dream for him to return to the franchise. Yet Kinberg's record makes me think we will have another ROTJ on our hands. Don't get me wrong I love the entire OT but Jedi is the weakest of the 3. His resume is full of less than stellar movies, only X-Men First Class makes me think he can pull it off, the rest on the list are less thank stellar. This give me a new hope. I think Disney is really trying to do it right. If people aren't happy with these new movies...well I guess it was never meant to be! PS. the director.......please NOT Joe Johnston.. JP3 and the rest of his movies are missing something , i can never put my hands on what it is but he would be all wrong. That would be one way to send this whole thing down the pooper!
- http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
  
  Joe Johnston is FAR from the worst director they could choose...and he certainly wouldn't send it 'down the pooper'. In my opinion, Captain America was his best film yet, and he would absolutely bring his A-game with Star Wars. He isn't the best choice...but he'd be far better than someone on the level of Michael Bay.
  - Me Again
    
    Capt was ok nothing special. His only noteworthy films were The Rocketeer, October Sky and Possibly Jumanji but I was a kid when I saw those. Your right Johnston is not on the same level as Bay but he still wouldn't be the right choice. Edgar Wright or another fresh, new director should be given a chance. I'm sorry but Johnston won't bring it back up to par with the quality of the OT. Give him the spinoff with Boba, ill accept that.
    - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
      
      It might be damn near impossible to hit OT quality. I'll be satisfied with 'better than the prequels'...which I actually LIKE
- starblazer7
  
  Really? first class is the only reason you think he can pull it off? Have you even seen that movie? ITS HORRRRRIBLY WRITTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fml
http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves

Kinberg does have some less than amazing films to his name...but if Kasdan and Kinberg are going to be writing their scripts based on the treatments already laid out by Arndt...I'd say that'll work out pretty well.
StarWarsreborn

Christmas in November...... Awesome as all f**king hell. I have two of the titles already. STAR WARS EPISODE VII: A NEWER HOPE STAR WARS EPISODE VIII: THE RETURN OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Dawkins/100002207329301 Jim Dawkins

Wow Lawrence Kasdan. Now you got my attention. Empire Strikes back was the best.
Rpin

All hope is lost. They're not looking for fresh new ideas. They're going to re-tread old ones like they did with the last SW trilogy and Indy films. Disney better get a clue.
- http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin
  
  You're exactly right, I want young blood involved in this and I don't want any of the prior players involved except as "consultants". I think if they hire Colin Trevorrow then that would be a huge step in the right direction.
- Guy who comments on things
  
  How do you know they're not going with new ideas? They're getting the old actors back sure, but not as the main characters...
- OfficialJab
  
  Hiring an experienced writer means the movies will be re-treads no matter what he does? All hope is lost if the entire fanbase is this ridiculous.
- Steven
  
  I don't agree at all. The prequels had a different tone and setting to the original trilogy, fresh faces to explore the background of the original story and yet it was panned by everyone. Its better to go back to what made Star Wars special and face the fact that no matter what is done the fans will gripe.
- The Truth
  
  Be optimistic! Please! Don't be negative! This could be really be awesome now that George Lucas is only in the backseat.
http://twitter.com/davide_coppola Davide Coppola

The SH are so freakin' boring and poorly written, I doubt they will surprise us...
http://hit-movies-com.blogspot.com/ Jhonson

Great
http://www.roamandthink.com/ PBGray

If there's going to be any old takes from the new trilogy, it requires 2 things: 1. There must be the line "I have a bad feeling about this." 2. There must be no discussion of midichlorians. That is all.
The Truth

Please! Make sure there are going to be no "Yippee!" kids, retarded comic relief such as Jar Jar Stinks, and emotionless actors like Haydenson and Portman(that's really George Lucas's fault)!