Pop quiz hotshot! You’re a billion dollar company and you’ve just bought the rights to a franchise which had its name besmirched by its own creator. What do you do? Simple, hire one of the writers of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) and RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983). In a brilliant move, and one which should even turn the heads of naysayers, Lawrence Kasdan has been brought back to the STAR WARS franchise as a writer and producer. Simon Kinberg has also been hired to write and produce. Kinberg is responsible for scripting X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (2006), JUMPER (2008), and SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009). Not quite as impressive, but let’s not also forget that Kasdan gave us DREAMCATCHER (2003).
There is still no word yet on how their duties will be divided over STAR WARS EPISODE VIII & IX. Whether they will work together on both parts or be given a single episode each is still being discussed. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE writer Michael Arndt is already confirmed for STAR WARS EPISODE VII.
Everything is moving pretty fast on this project. With Disney now owning Marvel and Star Wars it looks as though they’ll be receiving the majority of my pocket money over the next few years. Well played Disney.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
