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'Godzilla' Director to Helm 'Star Wars' Spin-Off for December 2016

by Ethan Anderton
May 22, 2014
Source: Lucasfilm

With production on Star Wars: Episode VII just kicking off, we figured it would be awhile before we heard any solid news on any of the developing Star Wars spin-offs we've heard will hit theaters in between the milestone installments of the new trilogy. However, Lucasfilm has just announced Godzilla remake director Gareth Edwards is attached to be at the helm of one of the films that have been said to be "origin story films" of some sort. Previously, we heard Lawrence Kasdan (who also co-wrote Episode VII with J.J. Abrams) and Simon Kinberg were scripting two spin-offs, but it's been confirmed three are in the works.

However, we're still not sure what kind of origin stories we're looking at. But we do know that Gary Whitta, who wrote The Book of Eli, will be scripting the film and Disney has set it for release on December 16th, 2016, so it will arrive a year after Star Wars: Episode VII hits theaters. The project is described as a standalone film, but again, no story details. Early rumors pegged a film focusing on the earlier years of Jedi Master Yoda while others have been said to focus on a young Han Solo or his arch nemesis, bounty hunter Boba Fett (both of those elements could actually be in a single film).

While we'd rather see what Edwards can do with an original film like his indie debut Monsters, especially following a big budget remake of Godzilla, we're glad Disney and Lucasfilm are plucking a talent like him to make their Star Wars universe films of the highest quality. And obviously, Edwards couldn't be more thrilled, saying, "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.” On top of that, THR says Edwards is under contract to direct two Godzilla sequels. Stay tuned for any updates.

Find more posts: Development, Movie News, Star Wars

28 Comments

Films I want as spin-offs... A 7 Samurai like epic filled with bounty hunters and ex-jedi holding off a hutt run group of thugs and protecting a small colony. They did a version of this for The Clone Wars and it's my favorite episode to date. Want to update it then put it between eps III and IV and make it Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan on Tattooine holding off a hutt gang with some washed up bounty hunters, maybe a clone trooper left over like Fives or Fixer. An Oceans 11 like heist film like the new book Scoundrels featuring a young Han Solo and Chewbacca An espionage thriller featuring a lead who is a member of the imperial spy division, akin to James Bond (inspired by the agent story line of The Old Republic MMO) and of course... Death Troopers, the R-Rated zombie spin on the Star Wars universe that will NEVER happen.

Kento on May 22, 2014

Can I hug you?

Xerxexx on May 22, 2014

It's so great to see this guy explode like this. Love his movies.

Jon Odishaw on May 22, 2014

meh

ff on May 22, 2014

I would love a film focusing on the bounty hunters.

DAVIDPD on May 22, 2014

While this is good news, I feel Disney will milk this cow til theres nothing left but some bones. I've heard many good things about Edward and in various interviews it seems to be clear that hes a smart director. However, Monsters, I thought was underwhelming. I know the budget was super low and he did most fx by himself. Still haven't seen the big G yet. This weekend for sure!

Sascha Dikiciyan on May 22, 2014

Also from the writer of the horrible Book of Eli and the unforgivable, After Earth? Great. These should be awesome.

Trey Wilson on May 22, 2014

Fuck yeah! This is great news! Disney needs to let directors run wild with SW films...there is so much potential!

Xerxexx on May 22, 2014

I could see him directing a Star Wars movie I would enjoy.

Brian Sleider on May 22, 2014

I'm all for this.

Chris Groves on May 22, 2014

Please NO! This is the man who give us an appalling story-wise in godzilla. Characters are plain aweful and the story is dumb as hell. Yes, I understand that I must take Godzilla for what it is, but not this low. I can't see how he would manage a SW film in a Disney controlled environment.

Lautaro on May 22, 2014

The story was dumb? The story of a skyscraper sized reptile was dumb?

Jon Odishaw on May 22, 2014

Same characters since forever, same situations and confrontations, motives, same progression, same devices used to try to connect with the audience. The Godzilla creature was OKAY, but everything else? really?

Lautaro on May 22, 2014

Well its 2014...originality has been dead long since.

Xerxexx on May 22, 2014

Yea not to mention the greatest monster battle in movie history. Stunning visuals.

Jon Odishaw on May 23, 2014

That battle was the worst thing ever. Convincing me that Edwards is no good at directing a long action scene.

Brian Sleider on May 23, 2014

I'm sorry you feel that way. In my opinion he made history with the size and deft direction of that battle. Even in the dark I saw everything I ever wanted in a monster battle. It was a wet dream for people who have always wanted a movie like this.

Jon Odishaw on May 23, 2014

How is a movie about a giant lizard dumb?

Xerxexx on May 22, 2014

If it's a Yoda movie, I hope it's about a farmer family's journey across the planet and then we see Yoda for a bit at the end. That would be the best.

OfficialJab on May 23, 2014

And then Yoda unleashes the full power of the force in the most epic twenty minutes of Star Wars ever seen.

Jon Odishaw on May 23, 2014

Yeesh. Dunno. Guess I'd have to see the Godzilla screenplay/script to know if he's really any good. With a Kasdan script though... this will certainly make or break this mans career. Best of luck to him.

avconsumer2 on May 23, 2014

Ever since Episodes 1-3 I've been skeptical of every "prequel" in the works....

TheOct8pus on May 23, 2014

Star Wars episode 1 may have sucked. But Episode 2 and 3 were good. What made them better was that they appreciated with age. If my friend you watch The Clone Wars which takes place between Episode 2 and 3 (all 6 seasons of it) you will see why the Prequal is 'superior' to the original trilogy. During the Clone Wars there are hundreds of novels and billions of fan-made facts that make it so amazing.

Pre-quel-freak on May 23, 2014

the lulz

adam lamonica on May 23, 2014

Episode two was good? You mean the one with the completely wooden love story between two characters who have no chemistry together? The one where Boba fat is a kid and the villain, Count Dooku, it is a limp Dick old man with a penis shaped light saber? That's also the one with Dexter's diner and that horrible sequence where C-3 PO's head ends up on a battle droid. And that's also the one with the memorable quote: "I hate sand. It gets everywhere" by Anakin Skywalker.... Total shit. Seriously total shit

TheOct8pus on May 23, 2014

Gary Whitta... hmmmm. After Earth was trash, but from a written perspective Book of Eli was ok. The acting from certain people needed work (MILA) and the direction was poor leading to that movie's downfall. However it isn't as bad as most say. Looks like a pairing of writer and director that have a lot to prove drawing on established source material. I'm optimistically skeptical lol

adam lamonica on May 23, 2014

Giant Godzilla creatures inhabit a large planet where the droids are used as toys while the New Rebel Alliance League led by Luke Skywalker III and capt.Puk Solo struggle to smuggle seven princesses out from the hidden fortress of Botar from the evil clutches of Lord Darth Mole.

Mike Zarquon on May 23, 2014

This is the end of Star Wars

Бабак on Jan 31, 2015

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