For many fans, the Star Wars prequels didn’t exactly live up to expectations. The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones met with lukewarm reception, while Revenge of the Sith fared a little better. Since acquiring the Star Wars license back in October 2012, Disney has been trying to shake the negative reputation often associated with the recent films.
In a recent financial call, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced some rather impressive casting and crew choices for both Star Wars: Episode VIII and the first in a series of separate, standalone films titled Rogue One.
Episode VIII
- Rian Johnson, director and screenwriter (Looper, Brick, The Brothers Bloom)
- Kathleen Kennedy, producer (Looper, Don Jon, Brick, The Brothers Bloom)
- Ram Bergman, producer (Looper, Don Jon, Brick, The Brothers Bloom)
Rogue One
- Gareth Edwards, director (Monsters, Godzilla)
- Chris Weitz, screenwriter (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz)
- Simon Emanuel, executive producer (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6)
- Jason McGatlin, executive Producer (Tintin, War of the Worlds)
- John Knoll, executive producer (Star Trek: First Contact, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)
- Felicity Jones, starring (The Theory of Everything, The Tempest)
Rogue One most likely refers to the rogue squadron from the film The Empire Strikes Back. Few other details are known about the film, but the standouts here are Felicity Jones, John Knoll, and Chris Weitz. Jones and Knoll both have Academy Awards for best actress and special effects, respectively. Weitz has a nomination for best adapted screenplay.
A great crew doesn’t necessarily guarantee a great film, but Disney is certainly giving us a new reason to hope.
On the game side of things, the forthcoming Battlefront game from DICE won’t be tying directly into the new movies. Star Wars: Battlefront should be out late in 2015.
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