While the internet has been filled with rumors concerning the director for
Star Wars: Episode VII, a screenwriter for the highly anticipated installment in the sci-fi franchise is still being sought. According to
Vulture, the leading contender to work on the sequel's screenplay is Academy Award winning writer Michael Arndt, who previously worked on
Little Miss Sunshine and Pixar's
Toy Story 3. Ardnt has written a 40 to 50 page treatment for
Star Wars VII, and will likely pen a draft for the Disney/LucasFilm project. Vulture say that the film is eying a 2014 shoot for its previously announced 2015 release date.
Also, sources tell the site that the studio want to bring back the original
Star Wars trilogy's three protagonists: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). While no deals are in place for the original actors to return, there are reportedly "high ambitions" to sign Hamill; and recently, Ford and Fisher expressed interest in reprising their roles. As for a director, Ardnt's treatment will soon cross the desks of top directors such as Steven Spielberg (LucasFilm co-chair Kathleen Kennedy's former producing partner), J.J. Abrams (
Star Trek) and Brad Bird (
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol). No word on whether or not any of these directors are interested in
Star Wars: Episode VII, but Disney apparently want to offer the film to big directors first.
Ardnt has had a close relationship with Disney's Pixar, and is known for being a big
Star Wars fan. So it shouldn't be surprising that LucasFilm and Disney would be interested in him writing the next
Star Wars. Ardnt recently penned Lionsgate's
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and is the screenwriter for director Pete Doctor's (
Up) next Pixar film. What do you think of this news?
Update: Deadline reveal that Ardnt has not only written a story treatment for Star Wars: Episode VII, but the entire sequel trilogy which was previously confirmed by Disney. The site also confirm that the screenwriter is in line to work on Episode VII's script next year.