Gareth Edwards' STAR WARS Standalone Film Loses Writer

Disney and LucasFilm's upcoming standalone STAR WARS film has lost its writer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gary Whitta, who was tapped to pen the script for the film, to be directed by GODZILLA's Gareth Edwards. Whitta completed the spinoff's first draft, and will now move on to the impending film adaptation of STARLIGHT. A new writer is expected to complete the project.

"Gary has been a wonderful, inspired contributor and I enjoyed working with him tremendously," said Edwards, per THR. "I'm so grateful for all of his contributions. "

Whitta added: "The year I spent working with Lucasfilm on this Star Wars film has been by far the most rewarding period of my entire career. As a lifelong Star Wars fan I'm deeply grateful to have had the rare opportunity to contribute to a new chapter in its ongoing cinematic legacy. The film is going to be amazing."

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS hits theaters in December 2015.

Star Wars The Force Awakens will star John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. The actors will join original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker.

The film is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

To post a comment, you must register and login.