New Star Wars gets its script writer – Michael Arndt
In this handout image provided by Disney, “Star Wars” creator and filmmaker George Lucas meets a group of “Star Wars”-inspired Disney characters Aug. 14, 2010 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Picture: Todd Anderson
THE author of the new Star Wars movie has been announced: His previous work? Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine.
Lucas film announced in a blog post that Michael Arndt, who also wrote the script for the upcoming second installment of the Hunger Games series, would be penning the initial drafts for Star Wars: Episode VII.
Producers Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas have begun discussions with Arndt to develop ideas and concepts for the new storyline.
Arndt has reportedly already written a 50-page overview of his vision for the first installment. It has apparently been distributed among prominent directors and Hollywood identities – such as Steven Spielberg.
The Hollywood Reporter says the new trilogy will focus on the “force-imbued family comprising Anakin Skywalker and twins Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa”.
People walk past a fountain showing the Yoda character from the Star Wars movies outside of Lucasfilms headquarters in San Francisco. Picture: Jeff Chiu
The gossip magazine claims the trilogy will bring their story “to a close” and feature a “new generation of heroes” with guest appearances by Mark Hamill and Carrie Fischer to reprise older versions of their iconic characters.
Last month, Disney purchased Lucasfilm for more than $4.05 billion and announced plans to release a new three-film set in the Star Wars series. New television and game projects will also be developed.
Star Wars: Episode VII is due to be released in 2015.
It’s official. On Nov. 9, Lucasfilm confirmed Michael Arndt, the screenwriter who penned “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Toy Story 3,” will write the script for “Star Wars VII.”
The news dropped one day after Vulture reported Arndt had written an extensive treatment, and just hours after this “Star Wars VII” new and rumor update.
George Lucas and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy have begun story conferences with Arndt for “Star Wars VII,” announced Lucasfilm. The film is in pre-production and slated for a 2015 release as part of a trilogy.
Arndt is an Oscar-winning screenwriter, having won Best Original Screenplay for “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006). He was also nominated for an Academy Award for “Toy Story 3” (2010) in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
Lucas, who had story treatments for the next three films in mind, will serve as creative consultant for the films. Kennedy will serve as the new film’s executive producer.
Lucas and Kennedy, in a video interview with Lynne Hale for Star Wars.com, talked about the early stages of development for “Star Wars II” and future “Star Wars” films.
“I’m doing this so that the films will have a longer life,” Lucas said. “So more fans and people can enjoy them in the future. It’s a very big universe I’ve created and there’s a lot of stories that are sitting in there.”
The main thing is to protect these characters,” Kennedy added. “Make sure they still continue to live in the way [Lucas] created them. And that the universe of ‘Star Wars’ continues to grow.”
“Star Wars VII,” the feature film’s unofficial name, will be the first in a trilogy that returns to the rich universe created by Lucas. The films were announced when the Walt Disney Company announced it would acquire Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, including the “Star Wars” property.
As much fun as “Star Wars” rumors can be, sometimes they’re even more rewarding when they’re proved true. Stay tuned for more updates.
GREEK WORLD MEDIA 