BIG RUMOR ALERT! Lucasfilm Developing An OBI WAN KENOBI Spin-Off Film?

MakingStarWars (via SlashFilm) is seemingly revealing one of the next Lucasfilm spin-offs set within the Star Wars universe. Be warned, the site's article includes a large amount of possible spoilers for Episode VII.  We've already heard that spin-off possibilities could include movies focusing on Boba Fett (with a rumored script from franchise writer Larry Kasdan), Han Solo, Yoda and Red Five film with Luke Skywalker (I assume with a new actor playing Luke) expected in the lead. They are now claiming that the studio is strongly considering an Obi Wan Kenobi movie, stating that the studio has hired concept arts to with alongside a writer.

Lucasfilm has officially confirmed these spin-offs are happening by announcing directors Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla) and Josh Trank (Chronicles, Fantastic Four) for them. The studio has yet to announce what the titles of the two movies will be.

The one thing that bothers me about the report, is that they go out of their way to mention Lucasfilm was originally avoiding Sith/Jedi spin-offs. When we know that statement just isn't true, with Yoda and Red Five projects being linked by separate sources to the spin-off lineup. Red Five could easily not have Luke, but I'm sure it could upset some purists. The Yoda film has been long rumored from AICN, and we no idea why it was excluded from their report. Perhaps, the studio has ditched the Yoda film for Obi Wan Kenobi, since a lot of fans hated the idea of a Yoda spin-off. Destroying some of the mystery of the character, likely isn't the best idea.

There have been some Obi Wan books that have done well, and the character is still well liked. Thanks, to the underrated Clone Wars series a whole new generation is discovering the hero. The jedi knight is still well loved, and is one of the few characters from the prequel trilogy that managed to not be entirely hated. Kenobi will also be apart of Star Wars Rebels, the era which I assume a possible Obi Wan movie could take place. Actor Ewan McGregor has been vocal on his desire to return, and I think a lot of people would be fine with that as well.

A while back it was reported the Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder had pitched a spin-off Star Was film that would be inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. An impressive take on lore, since the original film was inspired by The Hidden Fortress. When that news hit I had assumed that the group could include any number of hidden jedi across the universe, hiding from the Empire. However, it could have easily have Obi Wan as the lead character. This is just my opinion, but this idea still seems more viable than a Han Solo movie.

It also doesn't hurt that Snyder has been playing a cute game with director J.J. Abrams. Placing Star Wars characters into set BVS images, Abrams has also played back with his own images. However, Zack has been more agressive about it. I'm thinking even though he's heavily invovled with Warner Bros' DC film universe, he could eventually take a break to shoot a Star Wars movie. Since a spin-off wouldn't have massive time demand that one of the episodes would.


SOURCE: MAKINGSTARWARS

Antoine Fuqua Confirms He'll Direct Denzel Washington In MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Remake

Variety has word from director Antoine Fuqua, that he'll indeed direct Denzel Washington again in The Magnificent Seven remake. We've been hearing extremely positive things about the upcoming release of The Equalizer. Sony has already asked for sequels to be put into development. The original Magnificent Seven was already an American remake of the famous Akira Kurosawa classic The Seven Samurai.


SOURCE: VARIETY

FILMS THAT SHOULD BE MADE: Zack Snyder's SEVEN SAMURAI Inspired STAR WARS Spin-Off

Disney has confirmed that Star Wars spin-offs are coming and we should expect three of them. The release dates haven't been revealed but are expected to be 2017, 2019 and 2020, with main Episodes 7-9 to be released between them. We hear that Larry Kasdan is still working on a Boba Fett script, but that apparently hasn't been greenlit by the studio. Other possible spin-off movies include ones based around Yoda and Han Solo (there has also been talk of movies based on Jabba The Hutt and Star Wars: Rebels).



During the days of, who is going to direct Star Wars: Episode VII? An interesting story arose from the trades, which pointed to a Star Wars pitch from director Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300, Man of Steel). His film would be greatly inspired by Akira Kurosawa's classic film The Seven Samurai. A poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves.



Something George Lucas had previously did with New Hope, taking direct cue's from Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress. Not mention lifting entire shots and scenes from the film.

Snyder would eventually deny the pitch every took place, a common practice these days as directors and actors will deny any involvement to press about potential projects. In Zack's case likely due to his then unannounced commitments to the Man of Steel sequel Batman Vs Superman and now Justice League, which he was also taking with Warner Bros. about. Abrams himself lied about his involvement with Episode VII, until he was announced by Lucasfilm as it's director. It should be noted that when it comes to Star Wars just expect everything to be denied, until a press release from their site confirms it.

My impression is that Zack both signed a non-disclosure agreement with Lucasfilm, as did a majority of other directors who were courted around the same time (Matthew Vaughn..ect), and he also didn't want to look like his idea was being rejected by the studio. For all intensive purposes it looks like that film may never happen, as Zack's commitments to the DCU have increased. He could be called upon to direct even more DC movies in the future.



It's also possible that Zack might ask to leave Warner Bros. to make other movies, such as Christopher Nolan did between Batman films with The Prestige and Inception. When Justice League wraps, that would make it three back-to-back DCU installments from Snyder. I'm sure he'll want a bit of break from the comic book genre. Synder proved with the Krypton scenes in Man of Steel, he could have an interesting take visually on the Star Wars universe. I still believe this could end up happening, but it's a long-shot.

It's hard to say where Lucasfilm will want to go with Han Solo, but I do believe incorporating the Seven Samurai elements into a Yoda film could work very well together. Establishing an untold mission Yoda and other exiled jedi took-on, could be a very compelling spin-off or standalone feature. Even more so if it was set within the new Rebels saga, which is apparently official canon. Having a rag-tag group of former jedi knights who have been on the run or hiding from the Empire, coming together for a common goal or one last heroic event. Before they truly dissolve the jedi order as Kenobi and Yoda did by hiding out on remote planets, and never contacting the other jedi again.



I'm sure Rebels will try to explain what has happened to the remaining the jedi across the universe, but this could specifically speak to Yoda, Ashoka Tano (finally appearing in the films) and even Kenobi. I just feel like Seven Samurai screams jedi knights, and if the legacy/expanded universe if off-limits. Placing it into Yoda movie, set within the timeline of Rebels could make for an extremely entertaining adventure. We could even see the Rebels team get into the mix, with new cowboy jedi Kanan and even possibly Ezra. That's already five of seven spots possibly filled with canon characters.

Of course, Synder could end-up locking into a crazy contract with Warner Bros. to direct all the DC films (which would be insane for both the studio and Zack). Placing this whole idea into limbo, which for all we know will be it's fate. I'm excited at the possibility of Zack tackling a Star Wars movie, even if can't even admit to his pitch ever happening. Allowing him to play within the Star Wars sandbox, could be one of the more bold moves Lucasfilm might make moving forward with these spin-offs.

Zack Snyder Directing Stand-Alone STAR WARS Film Based On SEVEN SAMURAI

Zack Snyder recently stated he had zero desire to make Star Wars Episode VII. Well that seems to have been a misdirection of sorts. As Vulture reports the director of 300, Watchmen and the upcoming Man of Steel is developing a non-trilogy Star Wars film with LucasFilm. This new stand-alone feature is loosely based on the iconic Akira Kurosawa film The Seven Samurai. Which would see a group of seven jedi coming to together for a rather large mission. Fans of the franchise should not see this as too surprising as Akira's The Hidden Fortress was a major inspiration for A New Hope. The original film tells the tale of a small agrarian town in seventeenth-century Japan that’s routinely pillaged by bandits. Fed up with the annual shakedown, its farmers retain the services of seven masterless samurai to defend their harvest.

It's being reported the film could take place outside of the events of Episodes VII or VIII. However, with recent talk of LucasFilm trying to use the Marvel Studios model. This could be a way to introduce new characters into the trilogy, giving them stronger than usual backstories. Neither a writer or existence of a script is mentioned but is stated production would take place after Episode VII. It's rumored that the seventh installment would start pre-production in the Spring with the film possibly shooting later this year. In any case, from the new footage from Man of Steel it looks like Zack has grown as a director taking more of a serious tone.

It recently was announced that Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders, Return of The Jedi, Empire Strikes Back) and Simon Kinberg (X-Men Days of Future Past) would be hired as writers to develop films just like this one. It's possible that either or both of these screenwriters could be be tackling the untitled project. This might not even be that large announcement LucasFilm's Kathleen Kennedy's promised us for January. Episode VII still doesn't have an announced name for it's director.