Earlier this month, Metalocalypse director Jon Schnepp revealed that Lawrence Kasdan is writing the Untitled Star Wars Boba Fett Spin-Off, one of two standalone movies that will debut in 2016 and 2018, between new trilogy installments Star Wars: Episode VII (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII (2017) and Star Wars: Episode IX (2019).
Today, more rumors have flooded in claiming that Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger) is in contention to direct this highly-anticipated spin-off.
Of course, this news has not been confirmed, along with every other story we have reported regarding Star Wars: Episode VII and the spin-offs. But the filmmaker does have a history with the franchise. His first job was as an effects illustrator and designer on Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. He also served as an art director on the sequels Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. No offer has been made to the filmmaker as of yet, but he is considered to be one of the top candidates to direct this spin-off, which is scheduled to debut in 2018.
Back in July of 2011, when he was out promoting his work on Captain America: The First Avenger, the director hinted that he was trying to convince George Lucas to make a Boba Fett movie.
"I'm trying to get George to make a feature based on Boba Fett. I would like to, it would be a lot of fun."
This latest rumor report also confirms that Lawrence Kasdan is, in fact, writing the Untitled Star Wars Boba Fett Spin-Off, which will reportedly begin with a mysterious stranger killing the Boba Fett we know from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, and stealing his armor, assuming his bounty hunter identity.
Lawrence Kasdan is reportedly not a fan of the prequels, and didn't want Boba Fett to be a clone of Boba's father, Jango Fett, in this spin-off. The character was a fan favorite in the original trilogy, before falling into the Sarlaac pit in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, which is considered one of the most anti-climactic deaths in franchise history.
In related news, we also have more details about the Star Wars: Episode VII fallout between original writer Michael Arndt and director J.J. Abrams, who took over writing duties with Lawrence Kasdan in October.
We reported last week that Michael Arndt wanted the sequel to focus on the children of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), with those original trilogy characters playing supporting roles. However, J.J. Abrams reportedly wanted the original trilogy stars to be the main characters. This new report adds that Michael Arndt was in favor of the story following Han Solo's kids, while J.J. Abrams wants the plot to center on Luke Skywalker's offspring. The Luke Skywalker role has now been beefed up to the point that Mark Hamill may be shooting for six months on the sequel.
We also reported last week that Breaking Bad star Jesse Plemons is in talks for an unspecified role, having met with director J.J. Abrams recently. This new report reveals that the actor's deal is locked in, and that he is playing Luke Skywalker's son, Ben Skywalker, who will be the main character in Star Wars: Episode VIII. While sources expect the actor to be confirmed fairly soon by LucasFilm and Disney, they likely will not confirm that he is playing a Skywalker.
Finally, unnamed sources have also shot down rumors that Obi-Wan Kenobi's children will be a part of Star Wars: Episode VII. However, Kenobi's family still may come into play, through either a niece or nephew of the character.
Untitled Star Wars Boba Fett Spin-Off comes to theaters in 2017.
"Si muere no me sirve..."
