Directing VII

[Topeka]

Yes, at this point everything must be taken with skepticism. Here's a rumor that the director of X-Men First Class and Kickass has been in talks to direct.

The Collider

[Bandersnatch]

Looks like that Matthew Vaughn rumor is all over the internets now.

[Topeka]

I now have a strong desire to see Michael Fassbender portray a Jedi Knight.

Casting choices? Hopefuls? Let's throw some names out.

[Mike_Droideka]

No famous Hollywood faces please - we need young unknown actors mixed in with the original cast!

[DoubleSith]

The same report says the script treatment is being sent to three directors: Brad Bird, JJ Abrams and Steven Speilberg, and that Luke, Han and Leia all have parts.

[Joe1138]

Of the three, Spielberg is obviously the dream but I'm personally pulling for a name not mentioned: Andrew Stanton. Re-watch "John Carter" and tell me he's not the right guy for the job. Under Kennedy's watch and Lucas's tutelage I really think he could turn out something great.

[Mike_Droideka]

Abram's style wouldn't suit Star Wars. Lens flare and shaky camera work have no place in a galaxy far, far away.
Besides, do we really need the same director to do both Star Trek and Star Wars? It's a little too much IMO.

Someone mentioned Ron Howard in a thread on here. Now that's a good idea!
Spielberg would be the perfect candidate. I'm sure we'd all feel safe, with him on board!

[BlackCriminalGangster2050]

speaking of Spielberg--you could read into what Kathleen Kennedy is saying in this new "Part 2" video with her, Lucas, and Lynne Hale about people she's "worked with in the past" being possibilities for director:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuOHM51YdI&feature=plcp

I would love to know when these videos were actually filmed.

[Bandersnatch]

I would love to know when these videos were actually filmed.

I can't find it now, but I thought starwars.com had stated that they shot these earlier in October.

[CoGro]

As much as I want Spielberg involved, it just sounds too good to be true. I think he would do a fantastic job, but I believe LFL looking to inject young blood into the mix.

UPDATE: http://ca.ign.com/articles/2012/11/09/s ... pisode-vii

Spielberg won't direct.

[Mike_Droideka]

Another name thrown about is Colin Trevorrow.

Link

[Chostomo]

Spielberg says he will NOT direct a Star Wars movie

Mixed feelings about this i have ...

[Inv8r]

Abram's style wouldn't suit Star Wars. Lens flare and shaky camera work have no place in a galaxy far, far away.!

Ahem....best cinematography of AotC was the shaky-cam battle shots on Geonosis. We've already got shaky-cam in SW.


Glad Speilberg is not involved. His style doesn't suit this stuff, and would end up being 2 hours of mystical "looking" shots. Stanton is my best hope right now...of all the stuff that's tried and failed to be SW since the OT, John Carter may have come closest to the right tone. Still failed, but the feeling was almost there.

[Mike_Droideka]

Ahem....best cinematography of AotC was the shaky-cam battle shots on Geonosis. We've already got shaky-cam in SW.

It was used appropriately and momentarily in the battle scenes in AOTC, not perpetually like in Abrams' Trek film.
You don't need shaky camera work, when two characters are exchanging lines of dialogue in a bar - it's redundant.

[Inv8r]

Ahem....best cinematography of AotC was the shaky-cam battle shots on Geonosis. We've already got shaky-cam in SW.

It was used appropriately and momentarily in the battle scenes in AOTC, not perpetually like in Abrams' Trek film.
You don't need shaky camera work, when two characters are exchanging lines of dialogue in a bar - it's redundant.

Oh, quite agree, and in general I LOATHE shaky-cam. I just rewatched the Crow at Halloween and was reminded of how much better an action scene flows if you have some idea of what the hell is going on, and where you are. Today that movie would have been all shaky, all the time. Honestly I don't remember a whole lot of the action sequences in Trek apart from the Kelvin falling apart, where I felt it was justified.

[Mike_Droideka]

I find it distracting and that it tends to pull me out of the moment. I don't understand why so many filmmakers go for it now.
If it occurs during an action scene or if we're supposed to be exposed to the POV of a particular character, who's deranged/intoxicated - then that's OK, but if it's two people talking about a goddamn sandwich and the camera man looks like he's got a Ferret down his shorts, then it's just pointless IMO!

[Topeka]

Abrams would be my dream pick because he's the true epitome of us fans. There are certain "rules" to follow in making a Star Wars movie and I think he would be smart enough to know that. This is not a remake. There's already a style in place.

[Mike_Droideka]

He doesn't have a beard - he's not a real Director.

[BlackCriminalGangster2050]

Sorry, Topeka--it looks like Abrams is out:

http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/11/09/jon ... interview/

J.J. Abrams on ‘Star Wars Episode 7′ “Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” J.J. gushed. He added, “I frankly feel that – 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, 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 then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”

[Zaius]

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/11/12/ ... episode-7/

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/11/13/ ... -wars-gig/

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news ... p_mobi=yes

[Bandersnatch]

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news ... p_mobi=yes

The first 2 links you posted are full of shit, but this link by Lindeloff brings up some good points.

Lindeloff is a major queen who makes my skin crawl, and whose writing is about as important as yesterday's tissue, but I like what he says about being excited about the whole new project. Rethink it, look at what parts of the story have not been explored, and move it forward. We'll see what happens in 2015.

[gallandro]

speaking of Spielberg--you could read into what Kathleen Kennedy is saying in this new "Part 2" video with her, Lucas, and Lynne Hale about people she's "worked with in the past" being possibilities for director:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuOHM51YdI&feature=plcp

I would love to know when these videos were actually filmed.

I think it's more likely she's hinting at Joe Johnston who has both familiarity with Star Wars and has worked with Kennedy in the past. In fact I'm willing to bet he will helm the next trilogy. Heck he actually approached Lucas about making a stand alone Boba Fett film. He's a solid director with a solid resume and intimate knowledge of the source material. Almost a no brainer.

Yancy

[CoGro]

Joe Johnston should not be selected for this new trilogy; it would be a huge gamble on Disney's part. All of his films are very flat; far cry from what Star Wars requires at this stage of the game.

Some of his projects are decent popcorn fare (Captain America) but all are forgettable.

Brilliant visual director, incredible designer, mediocre director.

I would be supremely disappointed if Joe Johnston directed.

[gallandro]

Joe Johnston should not be selected for this new trilogy; it would be a huge gamble on Disney's part. All of his films are very flat; far cry from what Star Wars requires at this stage of the game.

Some of his projects are decent popcorn fare (Captain America) but all are forgettable.

Brilliant visual director, incredible designer, mediocre director.

I would be supremely disappointed if Joe Johnston directed.

Seriously?!?!? One of the better regarded films of the recent crop of superhero flicks? Ummm October Sky is flat??? Seriously?!?! The Rocketeer?!?!?!

Johnston would be an outstanding choice and I suspect Disney would court him pretty hard as they have a good track record with him (Rocketeer, Homey I Shrunk the Kids).

Yancy

[Treadwell]

Personally, I'd much rather someone from way outside the genre was brought in to direct. Someone who could bring to the saga what Kershner brought to the OT.

[Joe1138]

The Rocketeer bombed at the box office and isn't a film that's talked about much anymore. Captain America aside (that movie was made under the pre-existing Marvel-Paramount deal), Johnston hasn't made a movie for Disney in over two decades and, per IMDB, is currently filming a movie called Not Safe for Work:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2226495/

It's very unlikely that he would be offered the job at this point.

Expect LFL/Disney to go with a safe choice (Gore Verbinski, anyone?). I know Collin Trevorrow is campaigning hard for the job but the guy doesn't have much of a track record and Disney needs to make a case to both the public and it's shareholders that they made the right choice in purchasing Star Wars and committing to more movies for what was, ostensibly, a dead franchise. I mean, can you imagine the pressure Trevorrow would be under should he helm Episode VII? It'd be interesting to see a guy like that direct a future Star Wars film, though.

That said, I'm still holding out hope for Andrew Stanton.

[cantina_patron]

It's probably wishful thinking, but Duncan Jones might be a good candidate. There was something about "The Source Code" that made it more memorable than your typical anti-terrorist action movie with sci-fi elements. I'm pretty sure it's mostly the imagery rather than script that plays it too safe in the end. Of course, I want decent acting (for a change), but Star Wars are still a highly visual story and I think Jones might be one of the few directors who can get the visual language of Star Wars.

I haven't seen Moon but it was well regarded by SciFi fans and must have featured a good performance from what I heard.

[CoGro]

Seriously?!?!? One of the better regarded films of the recent crop of superhero flicks? Ummm October Sky is flat??? Seriously?!?! The Rocketeer?!?!?!

Johnston would be an outstanding choice and I suspect Disney would court him pretty hard as they have a good track record with him (Rocketeer, Homey I Shrunk the Kids).

Yancy

The majority of people would not agree with your opinion.

All three of those movies were either flops or under-performed at the box office. Captain America was actually the lowest performer of the recent Marvel flicks. You talk about the Rocketeer like it's some sort of masterpiece. It's not. Thinking Rocketeer is anything more than B-movie shlock is more nostalgia than fact.

To your last point, neither of those movies made big money. Rocketeer is one of the biggest flops in Disney history. Why would you re-up with a director who ISN'T making you money?

[TroyObliX]

I dunno', I wouldn't kick Johnston off my list yet. Not in an indefinate way. He wouldn't be at the top either though. And while I love the idea of "The Rocketeer", and have spied the props hanging around a wharehouse in Florida, it's as much a [s]student[/s] freshman-film as any.

[Zaius]

http://www.slashfilm.com/star-wars-bits ... ms-a-year/

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/featur ... Rejects%29

[cantina_patron]

JJ already made ST more like Star Wars (ANH). And Kirk to me personally was more annoying than teenage Anakin (who's not supposed to be very likable anyway). Not to mention lens flares and shaky cam.

[Bandersnatch]

Co-Director of the movie "Brave" has apparently been involved with a hush-hush Lucasfilm project for awhile now:


http://www.slashfilm.com/is-brave-co-di ... isode-vii/

[BlackCriminalGangster2050]

Co-Director of the movie "Brave" has apparently been involved with a hush-hush Lucasfilm project for awhile now:


http://www.slashfilm.com/is-brave-co-di ... isode-vii/

whatever her project is, it seems that it's not Ep. 7:

https://twitter.com/brenda_chapman/stat ... 3950685184

Seeing crazy speculation about me and Star Wars movies on the Internet ... I'm a fan, not directing one!

[DoubleSith]

Cross Brad Bird off the list:

“@ClarkGoble: tell me your next one is the new Star Wars!” Nope. A science fiction film. Not Star Wars.

“@GeoffBreedwell: You're not doing EP7? Why not? You're perfect for it!” Thanks. But the science fiction film I AM doing is gonna be cool.

https://twitter.com/BradBirdA113/status/269983682851397632

https://twitter.com/BradBirdA113/status/269981749478584320

[Mike_Droideka]

Could Colin Trevorrow be the new Director?

Link

Looks mighty convincing based on that.

[cantina_patron]

Trevorrow is out of the running


“@colintrevorrow: To clarify, there is another film we all love that I'm currently trying not to mess up. Odds I will direct Episode VII: 3720 to 1.”

[Mike_Droideka]

Hmmm. Strange that he would make comments lilke:

I would not comment much on it, but I’m as much a Star Wars fan like everyone else who grew up with it as one of the most important in their lives. I am deeply aware of how incredibly important it is for billions of people. It really is a mythology, and possibly also a religion for many. I can not comment on what my involvement would be, but I can definitely say that I would love to direct a Star Wars movie at some point in my life.It would be incredible. I will not be deterred by it. While I understand that every thinking director who cares about the series as much as I do, would be afraid to ruin something. But I also believe that there is a risk that many directors would gladly take, precisely because they care so much about it.

and

“I can’t speak with any specificity as to what the next thing will be. There are amazing opportunities that have arisen as a result of this. One of them, I will say, will probably create a good deal of ire against me on the Internet when people find out what it is. So, I just want to say in advance that I promise you, for all those who love the mythology that I will be tackling, trust that I love it as much as you do. And I will respect it, and hopefully make it not suck.”

only to deny involvement. I mean, what other mythology could he be referring to? It's obviously something significant - something that "Billions" of people love. Very strange indeed.

[Joe1138]

I mean, what other mythology could he be referring to? It's obviously something significant - something that "Billions" of people love. Very strange indeed.

Shot in the dark but given the comedic tone and scf-fi nature of his last flick... Ghostbusters 3.

[Mike_Droideka]

Ghostbusters? I never understood what people saw in those flicks - same with the Back to the Future series. Forgettable as far as I'm concerned.

[Joe1138]

Ghostbusters? I never understood what people saw in those flicks - same with the Back to the Future series. Forgettable as far as I'm concerned.

The first films are still held in high regard by most, even the sequels have their fans. I based my conjecture on the reports that Dan Aykroyd is committed to moving forward with a third Ghostbusters flick despite Bill Murray's lack of involvement and general fan ennui over yet another unnecessary sequel.

Further researched turned up this story about filming being pushed back to Fall 2013:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/3 ... 51336.html

So I guess we're back to square one with Trevorrow's next. Whatever it is, we know it probably won't be the Wars.

[E_CHU_TA!]

There's a nice breakdown of potential directors over at . For no reason whatsoever, I'm going to guess that Favreau is in the lead. (Or, maybe it's del Toro?)

[cantina_patron]

I mean, what other mythology could he be referring to? It's obviously something significant - something that "Billions" of people love. Very strange indeed.

Shot in the dark but given the comedic tone and scf-fi nature of his last flick... Ghostbusters 3.

Back to the Future? Kathleen Kennedy was the producer.

[Joe1138]

Back to the Future? Kathleen Kennedy was the producer.

I was thinking about throwing that name out there as well. I guess the subject matter is up his alley (time travel) but, man, you want to talk about touching a series that will raise the ire of the internet...

[ETandElliott]

Ghostbusters? I never understood what people saw in those flicks - same with the Back to the Future series. Forgettable as far as I'm concerned.

Whoa man, last thing I expected from someone on a SW board. The sequels I can kind of get, but the originals are great flicks. Classic 80s entertainment from an era when movies and childhoods were never better.

[TroyObliX]

Ghostbusters? I never understood what people saw in those flicks - same with the Back to the Future series. Forgettable as far as I'm concerned.

Whoa man, last thing I expected from someone on a SW board. The sequels I can kind of get, but the originals are great flicks. Classic 80s entertainment from an era when movies and childhoods were never better.

The BTF series is fantastic in all the ways Ghostbusters II isn't. Apples vs. oranges orange-juice even. Neither was the slickest, most cerebral sci-fi film of it's day, but for pure entertainment value I'd put all the Back to the Futures and the OG Ghostbusters in my top 100 "Fun" movies to watch.

At the same time, neither series' credentials gives me any hints what someone involved might do with Star Wars. Unless they are making it into a comedy. With Bill Murray and Crispin Glover. That might be kind of rad, actually.

[cantina_patron]

I mean, what other mythology could he be referring to? It's obviously something significant - something that "Billions" of people love. Very strange indeed.

Shot in the dark but given the comedic tone and scf-fi nature of his last flick... Ghostbusters 3.

What if he's actually directing VIII or IX rather than VII? There're some rumors they might be shot back-to-back.

[SI]

Ghostbusters? I never understood what people saw in those flicks - same with the Back to the Future series. Forgettable as far as I'm concerned.

I feel like I've clubbed a baby seal

[Bandersnatch]

Sir Derek Jacobi might be interested in playing a role....

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wa ... -wars-role

Now that would be awesome!

[Joe1138]

Speaking of collider.com, Harry at AICN just ran this item:

Hey folks, Harry here... Ol Frosty at Collider.com told us this... all the way back at the beginning of all these rumors. In fact, this has been RUMOR #1. Well, the folks at @DIYTV in London were doing the "green carpet" interviews for 7 PSYCHOPATHS. They talked with Sam Rockwell & Martin McDonagh, producer Graham Broadbent... they took photos of the doggies on the green carpet... and then they let slip this tweet:

We chatted to the lovely Jason Flemyng who pretty much let slip that Matthew Vaughn will be on Star Wars IV duties oops!#Jameson7Psychos

Now before you start freaking out that Disney is hiring Matthew Vaughn to direct a remake of STAR WARS... Don't because they also tweeted this follow up:

We mentioned earlier about Matthew Vaughn's involvement in Star Wars IV When we of course meant Star Wars VII. We'll blame the cold.

Alright - so here we are with a tweet from a Green Carpet event - with an actor... mind you, an actor that has had an incredibly close and long working relationship and friendship with Matthew Vaughn. NOW - keep your eyes on their Twitter account to see if they actually disclose what Flemyng said that "pretty much let slip" that Vaughn is strong with the force.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/59802

[cantina_patron]

Vaughn is a solid choice.