When it comes to STAR WARS, there was huge news this morning out of the Disney Annual Meeting of Shareholders led by Bob Iger. As posted on STARWARS.com, ROGUE ONE has been revealed as the title for the first “standalone” STAR WARS adventure that moves beyond the core STAR WARS Saga. Filming begins this summer under the direction of Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS, GODZILLA) from a screenplay by Oscar nominee Chris Weitz (CINDERELLA, ABOUT A BOY, ANTZ). The first actress to be announced for the cast is Academy Award-nominee Felicity Jones (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) The idea for the story of ROGUE ONE came from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic. He will executive produce along with Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds). Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) are on board to produce and John Swartz (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) will co-produce. The film is slated for release on December 16, 2016.
Additionally, Disney confirmed that Rian Johnson (LOOPER) will write and direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII. The film, which continues the saga after the events of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, is set for release on May 26, 2017 — forty years and a day after the release of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE in 1977.
Best time ever to be a STAR WARS fan? I think so. Stay tuned…
