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Disney CEO Confirms Multiple Standalone 'Star Wars' Films on the Way
by Alex Billington
February 5, 2013
Source: CNBC
So they're really going all out. It's about time we finally explored the Star Wars universe cinematically in ways other than the Skywalkers. We've been hearing bits of rumors over the last few weeks that Lucasfilm might be planning standalone, solo movies set in the Star Wars universe about different characters from it. For example, just yesterday we heard rumors that Yoda and even maybe Jabba are getting solo projects first. Now it seems like that all might be true. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently spoke to CNBC and confirmed, straight up, there are more standalone films in development. He also confirms the writers working on them.
Here's the exact quote from Bob Iger directly from the CNBC interview, where he drops a lot of key details:
"There's been speculation about some standalone films in development, and I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few standalone films. [Lawrence] Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films, derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. So we still plan to make Star Wars 7, 8 and 9 roughly over a six year period of time, starting 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period of time, too."
The interviewers, thank goodness, literally state that this is "big news" and Iger jokingly responds, "yea, I guess it is big news." Uh yea, it definitely is! This is huge news! It's official confirmation that, in addition to the new trilogy of Star Wars movies, we're going to get standalone Star Wars movies coming out while the new trilogy is being released from 2015 to 2021. They will also focus specifically on characters like Yoda and Jabba or even Boba Fett or other Jedi. Maybe I'm just a huge Star Wars geek who loves seeing more stories told in this universe, but all of this sounds awesome. I really want to see more Star Wars, and I don't care if they're Yoda flicks, as long as they don't turn out as bad as the Ewok movies there's nothing to worry about.
Iger also added, "Well, the implications for Star Wars fans, let's start with that because we're here to service our fans too, will be great, because there will be more Star Wars released in the atmosphere, so to speak, that's new and fresh. But I'm going to leave it to [Kathleen Kennedy] and the Lucas team to provide all the details when they're ready… By the way, they're both working with J.J. as consultants on Star Wars 7." Once again, he's confirming that screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan (of Empires Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Simon Kinberg (of X-Men: The Last Stand, Jumper, Sherlock Holmes) are working on these standalone films, and consulting on Star Wars 7. There's definitely a lot in the works.
Interview above for reference. Most of this news regarding standalone movies was rumored and reported late last year, but details were sketchy then. This isn't too much of a major update beyond confirmation of talent involved, the timeline, and details about consulting crossovers as well as these new standalone movies being released during the next trilogy. All of it sounds exciting to me, but this is just the start. Any ideas?
Update: Another set of quotes from Iger have arrived (via Deadline) to follow up everything earlier. Of course the PR teams went crazy after that aired and are making sure all the details are correct. For example, everything is still in very early development stages, so the "concept is simply 'becoming more real' with scripts now in development." Beyond that, they explain "at a meeting a few weeks ago he and Lucas agreed to focus their energies for now on the next Star Wars film due in 2015. They plan to investigate strategies to squeeze as much money from it as they can, including initiatives involving online, mobile apps, television, and parks and resorts." So these updates are hitting fast and as soon as they do, we usually hear something.
33 Comments
2
I'm going to have a good life for the next many years. I am so so glad that Disney made this purchase.
OfficialJab on Feb 5, 2013
3
God damn, I love capitalism. As many Star Wars movies as possible please!
John on Feb 5, 2013
4
as someone once said, "You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it." hell yeah, watch those spin-off lunchboxes roll out!
son_et_lumiere on Feb 5, 2013
5
Took me a few beats, then I saw Dr. Ian Malcolm 😉
David Banner on Feb 5, 2013
6
So...can Snyder have Star Wars? Someone develop Stovers Shatterpoint and Traviss' Clone Troopers novels.
Xerxexx on Feb 5, 2013
7
Yeah!!!!! Good thing I saved my Star Wars collection going back to 1977! $ $ $
JediBilly on Feb 5, 2013
8
Disney is clearly giving each movie the time and care it deserves. Trying to make quality films instead of just pumping out movies. (not srs) I really want to see some good Star Wars films but its looking like we're going to end up with Prequel-level movies again. Unfortunately, even the mighty Pixar has gone downhill since Disney bought bought them. I was pretty sure this kind of thing would happen (over saturation) since the first thing they did is set a release date instead of hiring a writer or director first.
si1ver on Feb 5, 2013
9
They didn't 'set a release date'...they said '2015' and have since said it might not be released that year. December 2015 wouldn't be a rush at all, that's the better part of 3 years away and they have a writer and director on board. WB wants Justice League out in summer of 2015 and they still don't have a director AND they want to see how Man of Steel does...THAT film will likely be a bit rushed.
Chris Groves on Feb 5, 2013
10
From the THR that this site sourced "Iger said the first new Star Wars movie is targeted for 2015 and that the company planned for another movie every two to three years after that." I like that they're only targeting 2015 and that Kathleen Kennedy said they may not even make that but... 2 years to make a Star Wars movie is INSANE considering they DON'T HAVE A SCRIPT. If they had a script that would be fine. But right now they are trying to what Marvel did, an interconnected movie universe, in two years. Which sucks because not only do they have limited time to make a huge movie but they have to make it the start of an entirely new movie "universe" (a universe is even bigger than a franchise). This will likely make the quality of the movie suffer because they have to set up other movies but also connecting these universes means they need even more time to write the script than a normal movie.
si1ver on Feb 5, 2013
11
Michael Arndt was signed for the script late last year, was he not? I'm pretty sure Lucas said that he had 'detailed story treatments' for Episode 7-9, which he gave to Kennedy. Work is certainly under way. If they are trying to make a May 2015 release, yeah, that's going to be a strain...but December 2015 gives them the better part of 3 years, which is PLENTY enough to make a blockbuster film.
Chris Groves on Feb 6, 2013
12
I think 3 years would be enough to make a blockbuster film but simply a blockbuster film won't be good enough for most Star Wars fans. Not only that but its the start of a new franchise and its not a normal franchise or trilogy its the start of an interconnected universe with movies wanted every 1 or 2 years for the foreseeable future in addition to spin-offs and this movie is going to be the start of that all and needs to be the foundation for connecting all these movies. Making SW7 a bridge movie/movie length trailer like Iron Man 2 and parts of Thor isn't going to work for Star Wars because the fans want an instant classic. They already hated all those winks in the Original Trilogy. JJ Abrams didn't sign on to direct the Star Trek reboot until February 2007 but in that case they already had a full script. That script took months to write but the Star Wars one will take even longer because its significantly more ambitious.
si1ver on Feb 7, 2013
13
Well, I'm sure the script is well under way. They started from 'detailed story treatments' and Arndt was hired in like November..so I'm sure a lot of work has been done and it's just a matter of perfecting it. the Star Trek reboot was originally set to come out in December of 08...and it wasn't until early-mid 08 that they made the decision to extend post-production. If they shoot for December 2015 it should be fine. Pre-production this year, principle photography next year, and post-production from there to the release date at the end of 2015. It's not an impossible task by any means.
Chris Groves on Feb 7, 2013
14
Darth Vader hunts Jedi: The Movie Boba Fett the badass bounty hunter: The Movie
Chris Groves on Feb 5, 2013
15
Those plus the Samurai-Jedi movie would be awesome.
si1ver on Feb 7, 2013
17
Maybe we do need a Han prequel trilogy
John Stamos on Feb 5, 2013
18
Zack Synder Star Wars samurai movie confirm
Brandon V. Fletcher on Feb 5, 2013
19
I heard him mention a Boba Fett movie 🙂 Btw, this guy has some valid points, but they are a bit late: youtube com/watch?v=jAg68T1N_9A
David Banner on Feb 5, 2013
20
As amazing as all this sounds Disney needs to chill the fuck out. We don't need ten star wars movies in one decade.
Jon Odishaw on Feb 5, 2013
22
Can it be more milked? Vodaphone ad's, Blu-Ray releases immediately followed by 3D versions, cartoons, games, toys. It's already milked. At this point most people are probably past caring.
El_MUERkO on Feb 6, 2013
24
The Star Wars teat is well and truly shriveled and dried up. Trust the Mouse House to squeeze more out of it.
castingcouch on Feb 7, 2013
25
Or maybe you just shriveled and dried up? You're not a kid anymore. Perhaps this is why you feel such hatred towards the new (and upcoming) episodes.
tom on Jun 17, 2013
26
Man, im gonna start dreaming about the release of the Han Solo Trilogy, although its gonna be so tough to find an actor to fill in the role thats so closely related to Harrison Ford...
wylles on Feb 5, 2013
28
I love this quote: Iger also added, "Well, the implications for Star Wars fans, let's start with that because we're here to service our fans too. hmmmmm service lol
Christopher Philip Cinquegrano on Feb 5, 2013
29
Are they doing to do this right or are we going to see some movies that are nothing but a sugar high like all the lame Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I hope they are serious, dark and are Chris Nolan'ish rather than Bruckheimer'ish. No ewoks, No JarJar, nothing that's geared to sell toys for toddlers.
Mike Scarborough on Feb 5, 2013
30
Disney = Children
steven on Feb 6, 2013
33
JAINA FUCKING SOLO!!!!!!!
Jericho on Feb 6, 2013
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