A week ago, it was announced, Lawrence Kasdan ("Empire Strikes Back") and director J.J. Abrams ("Super 8") had assumed screenwriting duties for
Star Wars Episode VII. A script that was being worked on by Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3"), but according to several insiders "isn't close to ready."
Today,
The Hollywood Reporter has put out an interesting article that details some issues that the film is having as they try to meet the film's ambitious 2015 release date.
According to those close to the project, producer Kathleen Kennedy and most of the film's creative team have asked Disney to push the release to 2016, but studio CEO Robert Iger is adamant that Episode VII -- perhaps the franchise's most anticipated installment since 1999's The Phantom Menace -- not budge.
Besides having to contend with Iger about the film's release, Kennedy might also be battling the film's director, J.J. Abrams over casting.
Some sources say Abrams has become autocratic in recent months, wresting some casting control from Kennedy. But others disputed that notion, saying Abrams and Kennedy both have been involved in casting sessions. Unlike Kennedy, Abrams is said to be more in sync with Iger's desire to meet the 2015 release target -- which allows zero margin for error -- at all costs.
While the
Star Wars prequels were able to succeed at the box office mostly due to nostalgia, that same type of goodwill can not be counted on for this new trilogy. So, it's critical that J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy get off to a good start. However, delaying the film until 2016 might be ideal just because of the solid slate of 2015 films. It might not be in
Star Wars best interest to be competing against expected box office juggernauts:
Avengers: Age of Ultron,
Batman Vs. Superman and Lionsgate's final (hopefully)
Hunger Games.