Originally published January 27, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
It looks like Disney and Lucasfilm have found a replacement screenwriter for Gary Whitta on Gareth Edwards’ upcoming standalone Star Wars movie, with The Hollywood Reporter revealing that Chris Weitz has signed on to the mystery project.
Weitz’s credits include his Oscar-nominated script for About a Boy, in addition to the likes of Antz, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, The Golden Compass and the upcoming Cinderella. Rumours had suggested that Simon Kinberg would take over writing duties following Whitta’s decision to leave the project, although obviously there was no truth to those.
The plot for Edwards’ Star Wars movie is being kept tightly under wraps, although online chatter suggests it could centre on bounty hunters, Boba Fett, Han Solo, or a combination of the three. The film is set for release in 2016 and will be Disney’s second Star Wars movie after December’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422327029&feature=player_embedded&v=ZflPU6YICpo&x-yt-cl=84838260&list=PL18yMRIfoszH_jfuJoo8HCG1-lGjvfH2F
