As we reported last week, Little Miss Sunshine screenwriter Michael Arndt was being heavily linked with writing the script for Star Wars: Episode VII , and now the Oscar-winner has been officially confirmed in the role.
“As pre-production of Star Wars: Episode VII begins, Lucasfilm has confirmed that award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay for the new Star Wars film,” read an official statement. Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas have begun story conferences with Arndt.”
That’s the script taken care of then, but what about filling the director’s chair? One name to be linked to the gig has been J.J. Abrams, but the Lost supremo has now taken time to officially rule himself out of the running.
“ Star Wars is one of my favourite movies of all time,” says Abrams. “I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series.
“I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up,” he continues, “so for me, working on Star Trek didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more than anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars , but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer.”
The search continues, then. Star Wars: Episode VII opens in the UK on 17 July 2015.
