Disney Confirms J.J. Abrams To Direct New Star Wars Movie for Disney
By DOMINIC PATTEN
Friday January 25, 2013


Disney has just confirmed J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII. Screenplay is written by Michael Arndt. Abrams, his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are producing along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney/Lucasfilm banner.

Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are consulting. Kasdan was screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi.

Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.







Official Press Release:


“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “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.”

George Lucas went on to say, “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.”

“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.”

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/j-j-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-movie-for-disney/

How many light sabre duels can one movie have before the movie going public gets bored. Probably lots :crazy:

Is this going to be a prequel or a sequel?

Disney Confirms J.J. Abrams To Direct New Star Wars Movie for Disney
By DOMINIC PATTEN
Friday January 25, 2013


Disney has just confirmed J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII. Screenplay is written by Michael Arndt. Abrams, his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are producing along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney/Lucasfilm banner.

Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are consulting. Kasdan was screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi.

Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/j-j-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-movie-for-disney/

OMG, I actually have a glimmer of hope that this won't actually suck! Congrats to Abrams and the further he can keep George Lucas away from the project, the better. :happyface

Is this going to be a prequel or a sequel?

No plot details have been released yet.

Various reports say that it will not be related to the previous franchise and that it will be an original story.

http://www.eonline.com/news/358685/star-wars-7-plot-will-be-an-original-story-says-lucasfilm-source

^ Not related to the previous franchise? Weird. I mean, wouldn't you WANT your film linked to probably the most successful franchise in the history of film?

And I wonder what happened to the belief that we would finally get Episodes 7, 8, and 9? For me, no Luke, Han, and Leia means a big "who cares?".

I've heard it's going to be about Luke, Leah, and Han in a new story.

We need to know simple things:

How long after episode VI does this take place?
Does it involve Luke, Leia and Han?
If so, are we dealing with new actors playing them?

And if this is an original story, is this a 3 part arc?

It's Official: Star Wars Standalone Films from Lawrence Kasdan, Simon Kinberg in Development
2/5/2013
by Jordan Zakarin


Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed for investors that his company has lined up Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg to work on stand-alone Star Wars movies.

Disney acquired Lucasfilm in a $4.05 billion transaction last year.





As THR first reported, Kasdan and Kinberg are working on separate films that will serve as spinoffs of the main new trilogy. Iger told CNBC that the pair are:

"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 VII, VIII and IX roughtly over a six year period of time starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period of time, too."





As previously announced, Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) is writing Episode VII, which will be the first Disney-produced installment of the Star Wars saga.

Late last month, Disney announced that J.J. Abrams will direct that first film. Abrams, new Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy told THR in a cover story last week, was reluctant to take on the role, concerned about his myriad other responsibilities.

Undaunted, she set up a meeting with Abrams, a longtime Star Wars fan. "We spent a lot of time talking about how meaningful Star Wars is and the depth of the mythology that George [Lucas] has created and how we carry that into the next chapter," she said. A deal was closed on January 25.





Disney has said Lucasfilm generated about $215 million in licensing revenue in 2012, without having released a Star Wars-related movie in five years.

That includes profit from theme parks, merchandise, TV spinoffs and other sectors.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-standalone-films-lawrence-418421

As THR first reported, Kasdan and Kinberg are working on separate films that will serve as spinoffs of the main new trilogy. Iger told CNBC that the pair are:

"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 VII, VIII and IX roughtly over a six year period of time starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period of time, too."


maybe its gonna be focused on Greedo !!

maybe its gonna be focused on Greedo !!

I heard it was Greedo and Jar Jar, in a buddy road movie.

Working title: "Meesa No Shoot First"

I've seen it reported on a few websites that Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are going to be in the new movie. If they are, I might change my mind about it .

It has been 36 years do you really want to see Mark, Carrie, Harrison in a new Star Wars movie? :lol:

I've seen it reported on a few websites that Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are going to be in the new movie. If they are, I might change my mind about it .

It has been 36 years do you really want to see Mark, Carrie, Harrison in a new Star Wars movie? :lol:

Of course I would. Why WOULDN'T you? I wonder how well the series would have done without them... :rolleyes:

Of course I would. Why WOULDN'T you? I wonder how well the series would have done without them... :rolleyes:

I always thought it would have been cool if Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy was adapted into film as it takes place right after Jedi, of course now too much time has passed in real life.

Personally I'd love to see Ford, Fisher, Hamill, and Anthony Daniels reprise their roles.

I've seen it reported on a few websites that Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are going to be in the new movie. If they are, I might change my mind about it .

If they are in the movie, they will probably just be minor characters. Han and Leia were in love in Ep V and VI so they probably got married, had kids and maybe Luke, who is now I bet a Jedi Master, will train those kids to be Jedi's to carry on the Jedi order. But in EP VII I doubt we will se Darth Vader since he died in EP VI

I was thinking, is J.J. Abrams the first person to be involved w/ both Star Trek and Star Wars?

I was thinking, is J.J. Abrams the first person to be involved w/ both Star Trek and Star Wars?

Unless effects people count because Lucas' company ILM has done effects for both franchises.

Carrie Fisher: "I'm Going to Be in the New 'Star Wars'"
Mar 6, 2013
by Robyn Ross


Carrie Fisher says she will reprise her famous role as Princess Leia in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII.

Last month, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that they will release Star Wars films based on individual characters. Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt is writing the first new Star Wars screenplay, which J.J. Abrams will direct.



Fisher confirmed her participation in an interview with the Palm Beach Illustrated. She imagines the updated version of her character might be a little less inclined to wage war.

"I think she's elderly. She's in an intergalactic old folks' home," Fisher joked. "I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle."



And as for the character's signature hairdo?

"She'll still have the bagel buns and the bikini, because probably she has sundowners syndrome," Fisher said. "At sundown, she thinks that she's twentysomething. And she puts it on and gets institutionalized."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Carrie-Fisher-Star-Wars-1062267.aspx

Eh, I dunno. I'd still pay to see Fisher in a golden bikini. ;)

Any word on Harrison Ford, I wonder?

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill On Board Star Wars: Episode VII?, George Lucas Suggests They Are
by THE DEADLINE TEAM
Thursday March 7, 2013


George Lucas was asked by Bloomberg Businessweek if the three members of the original Star Wars cast would return for Episode VII.

His response, “We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison—or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation. So I called them to say, ‘Look, this is what’s going on.’ ”



Pausing, he said “Maybe I’m not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them.”

But he did add, “I won’t say whether the negotiations were successful or not.”

http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/harrison-ford-carrie-fisher-mark-hamil-star-wars-episode-vii-george-lucas-suggests-they-are/

Disney Will Release A New Star Wars Movie Every Year Starting in 2015
by Darren Franich
Apr 17 2013


Confirming a strategy of aggressive franchise expansion, Disney announced today at CinemaCon that they are planning to release a new Star Wars movie every year, starting with the J.J. Abrams-powered Episode VII in summer 2015.

The plan is to release a standalone spinoff the following year — probably one of the projects focusing on Boba Fett or Young Han Solo — and alternate between numerals and spinoffs from there.



Assuming the films are successful, this means the total number of Star Wars films will nearly double by summer 2019. Presumably, Disney is hoping that each of the spinoffs will form their own franchises, much like X-Men and The Avengers.

There’s still no word on who might be working on the non-trilogy spinoffs.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/04/17/star-wars-movies-2015/

John Williams Returning to Score Star Wars: Episode VII
July 27, 2013
by Sadie Gennis


John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII, IGN reports. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced the news at Star Wars Celebration Europe on Saturday, where Williams shared his excitement via a pre-recorded video.

"I look forward to returning to a galaxy far, far away. ... I actually feel like I never left it," Williams said. "I'm happy to be a continuing part of the Star Wars saga ... and the joy in the journey of discovery that awaits us all."

Though he hasn't seen the new script, Williams said he looks forward to drawing from past themes.



Williams has worked on all previous six films. He won an Oscar for the original theme and earned nominations for his work on The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/John-Williams-Star-Wars-Episode-VII-1068349.aspx

Great news John Williams is my favorite composer.

UPDATE: R2-D2 Confirmed for New Star Wars Movie
by THE DEADLINE TEAM
November 19, 2013


He wasn’t just hanging around posing after all. Disney confirmed today that R2-D2 will be in Star Wars: Episode VII. A staple of every Star Wars pic, the little droid “will indeed be in the film,” the company said online Tuesday.

This is the first character from the previous Star Wars films that we know for sure is returning for the J.J. Abrams-directed movie. Episode VII is set to hit the big screen in December 2015.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/first-photo-star-wars-episode-vii-production/