Yesterday, Lucasfilm, announced that screenwriter, Michael Arndt, was not longer going to be a credited writer on the upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII. The studio has named Lawrence Kasdan and director J.J. Abrams as the new writers for the screenplay.
According to the official press release, Kasdan and Abrams have taken over the screenwriting duties for the project but gives no reason why Arndt is no longer attached.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, said,
“I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script. There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a “Star Wars” story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production.”
Kasdan has already been serving as a consultant on Star Wars: Episode VII and is described as a “veteran of several classic Lucasfilm productions.” He wrote the screenplay for “Raiders of the Lost Ark” as well as served as a co-screenwriter for “The Empire Strikes Bad” and “Return of the Jedi.”
Abrams is a critically acclaimed director and screenwriter who is known for his science fiction works such as “Super 8,” “Fringe” and “Lost.”
Shooting is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios for an expected 2015 release. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.
Location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design are already underway on “Episode VII.” A team of gifted artists are working to bring the latest installment of the “Star Wars” saga, including director of photography Dan Mindel (“Mission: Impossible III,” “Star Trek”), production designers Rick Carter (“Lincoln,” “Avatar”) and Darren Gilford (“Oblivion,” “TRON: Legacy”), costume designer Michael Kaplan (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”), special effects supervisor Chris Corbould (“Skyfall,” “The Dark Knight Rises”), sound designer Ben Burtt (“Lincoln,” “Star Wars: Episodes
I-VI”), re-recording mixer Gary Rydstrom (“Jurassic Park,” “Saving Private Ryan”), supervising sound editor Matthew Wood (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “The Master”) of Skywalker Sound, and visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”) of Industrial Light & Magic. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Star Trek Into Darkness”) and Jason McGatlin (“Tintin,” “War of the Worlds”) serving as executive producers.
