Rian Johnson's 'STAR WARS' Films Get Dates; Tatiana Maslany Rumored Frontrunner For Spin-Off

Schmoes Know, who I've recently mended relations with found a decent Star Wars rumor concerning Gareth Edwards' Star Wars spin-off.

They heard via Total Geeks that Orphan Black actress Tatiana Maslany is now the frontrunner for the unnamed female lead role in the film. Being a rumor it's pending better confirmation but it's something to strongly consider.

In the article they also point-out an EW report that Tatiana recently dropped out of a play and was replaced by actress Amanda Seyfried, this could mean that she's indeed getting ready to prep for the role.

Other actresses reportedly in the running include Rooney Mara, Kate Mara and Felicity Jones. It's expected that a role like this could crossover to other spin-off installments so there's an big commitment needed from the lead.

I have to believe that she wants this role badly after letting the Sarah Connor role in the new Terminator film go to Emilia Clarke.

Another bit of Star Wars news comes from Disney which announced dates for Rian Johnson's (Looper, Brothers Bloom, Brick) Episode VIII and Episode IX. Johnson is expected to write both films but is only confirmed to direct Episode VIII.

I have to imagine that they'll eventually announce him for the second sequel but are waiting on a completed script.

Bob Iger confirmed (via The Wrap) the dates are set for 2017 and 2019. Something we knew was coming but hadn't been made official by the studio.

“As one of the few people allowed to visit the set during filming… and one of the fewer who’s seen most of the footage… I can assure the millions of ‘Star Wars’ fans who have spent the last decade hoping for a new movie this one will be worth the wait. And it’s only the beginning of a new era of exceptional ‘Star Wars’ storytelling; next year we’ll release our first standalone movie based on these characters, followed by ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ in 2017, and we’ll finish this trilogy with ‘Episode IX’ in 2019,”

Rian is expected to continue the ground-work created by J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan for The Force Awakens in the next two films. It's assumed the two sequels will indeed follow the new characters rather than Luke, Leia and Han being the focus of it.

I'm totally in love with the fact Rian is going to be working within the Star Wars universe, if you get the chance check-out Looper which is currently on Netflix instant.



The spin-offs had previously been made official with Gareth Edwards' film coming December 16th, 2016 and Josh Trank's film coming December 2018, basically this does confirm previous reports that starting this year we'll be getting a new Star Wars film every year.

SOURCE: SCHMOES KNOW & THE WRAP 

Five STAR WARS Films Coming Between 2015-2019 , Plus YODA Spin-Off Given The Axe While BOBA FETT/HAN SOLO Films Likely To Move Forward?

While we'll be kept guessing what the new cast Star Wars will look like for a couple of months. As casting is apparently about to begin in the UK. A new tidbit of information via JoBlo should give us a better idea of how Disney plans on releasing the new films. Apparently, the new episodes (2015, 2017 and 2019) will be released every other year while the two spin-offs (2016 and 2018) will include the Han Solo and Boba Fett films. The Yoda film didn't seem to make the cut for the first round of films. The assumption is that like Marvel we could more phases of the Star Wars rollouts with more spin-offs and three more episodes.

Lucas Envisioned Four STAR WARS Trilogies And David Fincher Won't Direct?

It's been reported that Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm and Star Wars would include two new original Star Wars trilogies and other spin-offs. Michael Arndt had outlined a new trilogy and was hired to write the script for Episode VII. New information further confirms that Lucas apparently had originally outlined twelve films which means four trilogies. Empire (via ThePlaylist) mentions this and Lucas was aiming to give Hamill a sort of Obi Wan Kenobi role in Episode VII to pass the torch to another chosen-one. This lines up with the recent plot rumor that Skywalker would be setting up a new Jedi Knight Academy on Yavin 4. It remains to be seen how much of Lucas' notes will be included in the next six films.

Included is a brief update on David Fincher's involvement. ThePlaylist confirms the studio reached out to Fincher early in the process. David got early breaks working on Return of Jedi and Temple of Doom for LucasFilm. Plus, LucasFilm head Kathleen Kennedy produced Fincher's Benjamin Button. However, they state that Fincher is unlikely to make the "plunge". He's already working on 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea for Disney with Brad Pitt loosely linked to star in the lead. It's expected we'll be hearing the name of the director sometime in January.

Lawrence Kasdan And Simon Kinberg To Script STAR WARS EPISODE VIII And EPISODE IX

Deadline reports that screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are in talks with Disney/LucasFilm to tackle Episode VIII and Episode IX. Kasdan is best known for writing Empire Strikes Back, Return of The Jedi and Radiers of The Lost Ark. Kinberg known for Sherlock Holmes along with X-Men Days of Future Past. It sounds like the studio is really aiming to put the two sequels into production very soon with this news. We already know that Michael Arndt (Oblivion, All You Need Is Kill) is currently working on Episode VII while a director has yet to be named.

UPDATE: HeatVision has word the deals are done and the pair of writers will also be producers. 

STAR WARS Trilogy Rumor Roundup

It's been very exciting the last couple of days trying to play catch up with all the rumors, reports and speculation concerning the two new Star Wars trilogies. I've put together a rundown of a few I missed and added my thoughts as well. Granted these are mostly from anonymous sources not connected with the production, so don't take the statements as the gospel. Either way, they are an interesting read and give some hope that these films won't be the giant letdown the prequels ended being.

SKYWALKERS INVOLVED WITH BOTH TRILOGIES?: We won't be just getting Episodes VII, VIII and IX. The plan is to move right into Episodes X, XI and XII after the end of the first new trilogy. A biographer who could be working on old information tells TheWrap that the new trilogy will involve Luke in his 30's or 40's. Not to mention the Skywalkers will be heavily involved with all six films (of course).

The next in the series, he said, involve Luke Skywalker in his 30s and 40s, but Lucas was unlikely to turn to Mark Hamill, who played Luke in the original but whose performance left the director dissatisfied. “They will need an older Luke Skywalker,” Pollock said.

  MarketSaw's source claims that the original characters will be featured in the new trilogy along with the second trilogy having a female Skywalker as the protagonist. There is speculation that it's possible these two ideas could be combined in the trilogy if the studio wants to introduce this new heroine earlier. We've heard confirmation that the books won't be direct influence but nobody has mentioned the characters in them won't end up being used. Oddly enough, this person claims Mark Hamill is returning. Already things are starting to conflict with other statements.


Recasting the characters is going to have to happen if the plan is spread out the first trilogy over 6-9 years. A female Skywalker could mean seeing Leia transform from Princess to Jedi Knight within the new installments. Along with Luke building a new Jedi temple and training a new crop of Jedi (including Leia?). Hopefully, by the end of the first trilogy seeing Luke's transition into the darkside. In the book canon Luke only has one child Ben Skywalker, it's possible they could create a new batch of Skywalkers to suit the films. While they don't take the Skywalker name Leia and Han's children are Skywalkers/Jedi. Jaina Solo being the more popular of the bunch not to mention that her twin brother Jacen ends up becoming Darth Caedus. The only other female character they could be talking about is fan favorite Mara Jade Skywalker (the wife of Luke). Her transition from darkside to light would be a great change of pace not to mention the added bonus of the character being able to go toe-to-toe with the boys.

SPIN-OFF FILMS POSSIBLE: HeatVision has heard from sources that Star Wars will be setup Avengers-style besides the planned trilogies we'll see offshoot films focusing on individual characters. I'm sure this gives wiggle room for that Boba Fett film that Joe Johnston (Captain America, Rocketeer) was putting together. Perhaps, we could see new characters or established characters (including ones from the books/games) getting their own movies. Seeing a film set in the Star Wars universe every year rather than two to three which had been said of the trilogy. I'm sure fans of the Force Unleashed, Old Republic and the mysterious 1313 will be waiting to hear if the characters will be involved with any of these offshoots.

1952 REALLY EPISODE VII: AICN started putting together a theory that the huge Disney sci-fi film titled 1952 is really the new Star Wars trilogy. The secret project has Pixar guru Brad Bird (Incredibles, Ghost Protocol) attached to direct with Damon Lindelof (World War Z, Prometheus, Lost, Star Trek Into Darkness) working on the script. My thought, the title was hinting to Episodes VII, VIII and IX. For example if you play with the numbers of 1952 you get (5+2="7"+1="8")"9". However, FirstShowing has word from a source (distractor?) that the project is an original concept.

 Brad Bird has been the gem of Pixar directing some of their better films and earning an Oscar for . He made the jump into live-action films directing Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. He's a director Disney can trust along with being able to balance character and action which is very important to Star Wars fans unhappy with the underwhelming prequels. The recent directors-list is filled with landmines and while some are interesting choices Bird seems a solid choice.

Lindelof has attached himself to two rather large science fiction franchises with Star Trek Into Darkness and Prometheus/Paradise (Alien franchise). Disney could have had Damon write an outline only for another writer to complete it. Disney is able to hire very creative people for their franchises as we've seen previously. They were recently able to wrangle David Fincher to remake 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Marvel/Disney hired Joss Whedon to make the Avengers which led Marvel handing over the creative keys for the entire film universe. Whedon will now have input on all the films until he exits Marvel. It wouldn't be hard to imagine Disney looking to Damon to be their Whedon/Lucas for the new era of Star Wars.