Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

[Walts Ghost]

Simon Kinberg and EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Scribe Lawrence Kasdan May Write STAR WARS Episodes 8 and 9

If you thought we’d be heading into the Thanksgiving holiday without one more Star Wars rumor for the road, you’d be wrong. Michael Arndt was recently confirmed as the screenwriter for Star Wars: Episode VII, and while everyone is busy speculating over who will or won’t direct the next installment in the franchise, it appears that Disney already has its sights set on Episodes VIII and IX. Word on the street is that the Mouse House is looking at Empire Strikes Back screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and X-Men: First Class scribe Simon Kinberg to possibly get to work on the next two installments in the new trilogy right away. Hit the jump for more.

When Star Wars: Episode VII was announced, it was revealed that it was the first film in a planned new trilogy based on treatments by George Lucas. Lucas said that he passed all his story notes and treatments for further Star Wars films on to new LucasFilm head and Star Wars gatekeeper Kathleen Kennedy, and Disney made it clear that they would like to release a new Star Wars film every other year.

That kind of ambitious plan doesn’t move forward without some major planning, and Deadline is now hearing that Disney is approaching Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg to go ahead and get the ball rolling on Episodes 8 and 9. Kasdan’s name should ring familiar for fans of the original franchise, as he scripted The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and he also penned the screenplay for Radiers of the Lost Ark. As for Kinberg, he’s no stranger to franchise material himself as he wrote the scripts for Sherlock Holmes, X-Men: First Class, and the upcoming sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past.

I have to say I’m pretty over the moon about the mere prospect of Kasdan returning to the franchise. Lucas is still involved with the new films as a consultant, but it’d be great to inject the new films with some of the creative juice that crafted the original trilogy. Disney/LucasFilm is taking a strict “no comment” policy on all rumors and unofficial murmurings, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we heard an announcement regarding Kasdan and Kinberg’s involvement relatively soon, assuming they accept the gigs. Whatever the case, it appears that we won’t be lacking for new Star Wars films for quite some time.

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[Walts Ghost]

Update: Kasdan and Kinberg Close Deals to Write and Produce 'Episode VIII' and 'Episode IX'

Update: Kasdan and Kinberg's involvement has been confirmed along with the news that the two will also produce. Heat Vision is now reporting that Kasdan and Kinberg have closed deals to write either Episode VIII or Episode IX, though the division of their responsibilities has yet to be determined. This means that Kasdan could possibly find himself writing the middle chapter in a Star Wars trilogy again, and we all know how that worked out the first time. The duo will also produce the films. Our original story follows below.

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[AmrlKJaneway]

Wow! Just wow!

Excellent!

Anyone not looking forward to this now?

[Will21st]

It seems to me that Lucas,Disney,Kennedy et al. are just about making the right choices re SW.....

[Will21st]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Wow! Just wow!

Excellent!

Anyone not looking forward to this now?

How couldn't ya? I'd say the Director for Episode 7 is in the bag as well,they're just not telling.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Will21st

It seems to me that Lucas,Disney,Kennedy et al. are just about making the right choices re SW.....

Shoot, Kasdan should write and direct all three of them.

[Steelmaker]

Wow!

Pardon my French but Disney is not fu<king around!!

[Will21st]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Shoot, Kasdan should write and direct all three of them.

Dunno,fresh blood for each Ep. would be preferable,maybe? I think it's great there will be the same writers for the films,should give consistency.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Wow!

Pardon my French but Disney is not fu<king around!!

Yeah.The rapid-fire announcements are surely proof that all of this has been in gestation for quite a while? First they say the want Kasdan,and a few hours later it's a yes?
I'd bet $10 they have a Director already.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Interesting, I'm a semi-fan and obviously I'm looking forward to it on a blu-ray rental.

[Wally Q]

Thank the Maker!

[L-Rouge]

bloody brilliant

[aiman04]

They're really not wasting time on this. Lawrence Kasdan, wow, have always been thinking of him to write every Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back, but never thought he would want to.

Never heard of a production hiring creative team so early, I mean now 2012, for a 2017 release?

Could they all be in production back-to-back (not unheard of), or even concurrently with two (or three) separate production teams?

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Wow! Just wow!

Excellent!

Anyone not looking forward to this now?

Me. The awful prequels and constant bad, incorrect or unecessary alterations to the OT have drained all the joy out of the series for me. I sold my blu box set months ago. Couldn't even sit through them all.

Just for context, I saw the original in '77 thirteen and a half times. I was a mega-fan for many years. I just find it really hard to care about SW anymore.

[bearscubsfan87]

The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite Star Wars film, and one of my overall favorite movies. This is great news. I have been more interested in the upcoming Hobbit Trilogy, but that might change with this news. I guess now I have something to really look forwards to after Jackson's opus concludes in 2014.

[Wally Q]

Originally Posted by bearscubsfan87

The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite Star Wars film, and one of my overall favorite movies. This is great news. I have been more interested in the upcoming Hobbit Trilogy, but that might change with this news. I guess now I have something to really look forwards to after Jackson's opus concludes in 2014.

Word for ****ing word how I feel.

[Walts Ghost]

Exclusive Update: Alfonso Cuaron Lining Up For STAR WARS Ep VIII? Simon Pegg Going STAR WARS On Us?

You all know by now that we have some great sources embedded in key franchises - one of which is the mighty STAR WARS universe. Well the same source that gave us the exclusive that the third STAR WARS trilogy is going to happen, in 3D, without Lucas directing, that it will focus on the Skywalker offspring, and that the trilogy will follow in the original trilogy's tone is back.

So what's cooking now? How about Alfonso Cuaron getting up close and personal? I mentioned Episode VIII, but it could be Episode IX as well (or both for that matter). I would LOVE to see a STARS WARS movie directed by Cuaron. So many people are going to have the light turned on as to how brilliant a director he is after they see GRAVITY this year.

Anyway, I won't further spoil the spy info - so read on and we'll discuss afterwards!

READ ON...

As far as I know Episode 7 was then, and is now, focusing on the Skywalker's offspring. As I told you before, I believe duel personalities develop, akin to Anakin and Obi Wan, and Luke and Vader in the first trilogies, which as far as I am aware, is the driving force behind the new trilogy. Things may change however, but I doubt it, this has been long in the making.

The focus is on the original trilogy in regards of reverence and tone. Remember I told you before that the tone was important, well I believe they are really taking that seriously. From everything I know, they're focusing on that directly. Remember everything has the ability to change drastically, as Star Wars right now apart from the twin trilogies is a huge blank canvas. However, the trilogies ongoing narrative will continue to focus on that particular branch, whereas the stand alone movies, will fill and expand the voids in between in multiple timelines, and have potential to then be franchised themselves in regards to the worlds they open up.

Yoda, Palpatine, Jabba, Boba, Plagueis etc.

I believe they are very clued into what fans would and wouldn't like, and considering Mr Ford himself may not be done with his character yet, I wouldn't start picketing Lucasfilm about young Han Solo movies being made just yet. Which I was led to believe couldn't be further from how they want to move forward creatively anyway.

Harrison Ford has been approached, he has not turned it down, and is from everything I hear, very interested in returning to the role of Han Solo again, but is not signed as was reported recently. Negotiating may be a better choice of words right now. Hope it shakes out.

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were also approached a long time ago, as was ford, and a few other key players. I would all but guarantee, they will be in Episode 7, and I would be confident that Ford will return too. If the universe aligns correctly.

J.J. Abrams name was brought up to me numerous times, but only in reference to re-brand and ground up respect for world building that the franchise was looking to take back then. Very sneaky. Interesting to see he was offered the most coveted and feared gig in cinema history. Ultimately he is the perfect choice to direct episode 7, and set up the franchise to steward through the first trilogy. The names I mentioned to you before, remember them (EDITOR'S NOTE: my source's director list can be found here). Alfonso Cuaron especially. Trust me.

J.J. Abrams mystery cube or whatever he is calling it today, is in full effect, Star Wars news is going to be very thin on the ground for the foreseeable future, but expect Simon Pegg to be involved in some capacity. Can't say why, but lets just say I have a strong feeling about that.

Star Wars fans, Kathleen and J.J have your interests at heart.

So, very interesting!! And what is Simon Pegg doing with STAR WARS? Ideas? Is he jumping with Abrams in some fashion? Clearly he is deep in STAR TREK but being the miracle worker that Scotty is, apparently Pegg is needed in the STAR WARS universe as well!

And Cuaron? Hopefully that happens. As of right now it is in the works, so fingers crossed! More exclusive STAR WARS, AVATAR and HOBBIT info when I get it!

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[blu-mike]

I am gonna have a heart attack.

[blonde_devil]

Star Wars fans, Kathleen and J.J have your interests at heart.

yeah, sure. and if you have some spare cash, I have some nice ocean-side properly in Arizona for sale too.

I think they are getting a little ahead of themselves. before they start planning for Episode 9, they should make sure they get Episode 7 done first and that it is a hit. pretty good chance that no matter what we are getting Episodes 7-9 but if they screw up 7, people aren't going to be as receptive to 8 and 9. Can say that people will watch it because it is Star Wars but don't bet on it. If it strays too far from what Lucas established and what people like, fans will stop watching it.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

Star Wars fans, Kathleen and J.J have your interests at heart.

yeah, sure. and if you have some spare cash, I have some nice ocean-side properly in Arizona for sale too.

I think they are getting a little ahead of themselves. before they start planning for Episode 9, they should make sure they get Episode 7 done first and that it is a hit. pretty good chance that no matter what we are getting Episodes 7-9 but if they screw up 7, people aren't going to be as receptive to 8 and 9. Can say that people will watch it because it is Star Wars but don't bet on it. If it strays too far from what Lucas established and what people like, fans will stop watching it.

They can only go up from this point. We knew out the gate that this was going to be a new trilogy. They do have our best interests in mind right now, because they're trying to make a trilogy that'll match the original. Getting good behind the scenes talent for the films will be a plus. There's nothing wrong with planning ahead.

[Ernest Rister]

They need rock-solid scripts, the rest will take care of itself. The Prequels weren't seen as a disappointment because of Lucas' visual style (although that has become an easy target), it was the writing. I think Crystal Skull should have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can have the greatest talent in the world behind your camera, but without a decent screenplay you just have a well-shot bad movie.