Disney Hires a New Writer for the First “Star Wars” Spin-off Movie
Earlier this month, writer Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) left the first “stand-alone” Star Wars movie, after turning in his first draft. Now, Disney has hired Oscar-nominated writer Chris Weitz to take over the project.
As a writer, Weitz’s credits include an Academy Award nomination for About a Boy (he is also involved with the current television adaptation), Antz, Disney’s forthcoming, live-action Cinderella…and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. As a producer, he was involved with the American Pie series, and has directed The Golden Compass…and The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Apparently, this could go either way.
It won’t be the first time Disney has switched up writers on their Star Wars movies: Oscar nominee Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) departed Star Wars: The Force Awakens after working on the project for about a year. Lawrence Kasdan and the film’s director, J.J. Abrams, took over scripting duties at that point, and it’s unclear how much of Arndt’s work remains on the film.
Weitz is working on the first of two Star Wars spin-off movies that will be released between the official numbered “episodes”. The film, directed by Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards, is due to release December 16, 2016.