We gotta say, we like Disney‘s gameplan here. With J.J. Abrams shepherding the mainline saga continuing “Star Wars: Episode 7,” the studio is tapping rising young talent for their planned standalone spinoff films. “Godzilla” director Gareth Edwards will be doing the first one, due into cinemas in 2016, and now another exciting name has joined the franchise.
“Chronicle” and “Fantastic Four” director Josh Trank has been officially announced as the director for another standalone movie, though no release date has been set for his entry. And that’s all the details there are at the moment too, with no word on which character he might be taking on or what the plot details might be. But it’s another level jump for the filmmaker, who impressed with the comic-book-movie-that-wasn’t-a-comic-book-movie “Chronicle,” and one hopes he’s able to show his more adventurous side here, too.
Official press release below along with “Stabbing At Leia’s,” a “Star Wars” inspired short directed by a 23-year-old Josh Trank.
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In addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney continue development of multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga. The newest director to come on board is Josh Trank.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Josh into the family,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “He is such an incredible talent and has a great imagination and sense of innovation. That makes him perfectly suited to Star Wars, and for this new slate of movies that reach beyond the core characters and storylines of Episodes I through IX.”
Trank states, “The magic of the Star Wars Universe defined my entire childhood. The opportunity to expand on that experience for future generations is the most incredible dream of all time.”
Trank captured imaginations worldwide with his critically lauded directorial debut Chronicle, a fresh and engaging take on the superhero genre. Trank is currently at work on The Fantastic Four for 20th Century Fox.