JJ Abrams and Larry Kasden writing Star Wars

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Frazzled**

Ok I could see that. Sorry if this is old news.

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/j-j-abrams-and-lawrence-kasdan-take-over-writing-duties-on-star-wars-episode-vii-1200759161/

J.J. Abrams and “Star Wars” veteran Lawrence Kasdan have taken over screenwriting duties on “Star Wars: Episode VII,” replacing “Toy Story 3″-scribe Michael Arndt, who was originally hired to pen the project.
“I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script,” said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a ‘Star Wars’ story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production.”
Disney and Lucasfilm released the news on StarWars.com.
The companies announced Arndt (whose credits also include “Little Miss Sunshine”) was hired on the project in November 2012, an announcement they also made on StarWars.com. To land the job, Arndt wrote a 40- to 50-page treatment for the film.
Shooting on “Episode VII” is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios for an expected 2015 release.
Kasdan had been serving as a consultant on the film, and has had a long relationship with Lucasfilm, having written the screenplays for “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and co-written “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”
The screenwriter was brought on last fall by George Lucas to write and produce future installments of the “Star Wars” saga. Simon Kinberg is also developing upcoming “Star Wars” pics to produce.
Disney and Lucasfilm added that location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design are already underway on “Episode VII” with Dan Mindel (“Mission: Impossible III,” “Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness”) serving as director of photography; and Rick Carter (“Lincoln,” “Avatar”) and Darren Gilford (“Oblivion,” “Tron: Legacy”) as production designers.
Michael Kaplan (“Star Trek Into Darkness”) serves as costume designer, while Chris Corbould (“Skyfall,” “The Dark Knight Rises”) will serve as special effects supervisor, with Roger Guyett (“Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith”) as visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic.
“Star Wars” franchise vet Ben Burtt returns as sound designer, with Gary Rydstrom (“Jurassic Park”) tapped as re-recording mixer and Skywalker Sound’s Matthew Wood (“Star Trek Into Darkness”) as supervising sound editor.
Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers.
John Williams is returning to the series to score the soundtrack.
Shooting is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios, in the U.K., for an expected 2015 release.

**timetowaste85**

He's writing it in addition to directing? Nice.

**Hulksmash**

God, a Star Wars filmed not helmed by Lucas......It'll be hard to mess that up

**Seaward**

Hulksmash wrote:
God, a Star Wars filmed not helmed by Lucas......It'll be hard to mess that up

Well, keep in mind it's JJ Abrams, so the cast is going to look like they got lost on the way to the set of a show on CW.

**Hulksmash**

I like most of the shows on the CW

(well, most is a little strong, I like quite a few of them)

And I really like the casting choices for the new Star Treks so I'm not seeing it as a bad thing here.

**Forar**

I'm seeing a distinct lack of the words "Thrawn" and "Timothy Zahn" in that OP.

Someone nudge me when they begin working on the 'true sequels'.

... why yes I'm a fan of his work, why do you ask?

**Manchu**

Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up

Into Darkness

**Paradigm**

Manchu wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up
Into Darkness

Yeah, this. ST: Into Darkness was not only a poor film in its own right, it also made a joke of the original it was 'based on'. I really, really hope he doesn't do the same to Star Wars (as then he would be responsible for ruining 2 of the greatest franchises ever, and the trekkies and warsians would unite in their rage.)

My thought process about this film is basically along these lines:

Disney -> POTC/ Avengers franchises ->

JJ Abrams -> ST: ID ->

Therefore

...

**Frazzled**

Manchu wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up
Into Darkness

Yes, I cannot express the level of nerdrage I had with that movie. Interestingly, the wife who knows not the greatness of Wrath of Khan, liked it.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Paradigm wrote:
Manchu wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up
Into Darkness

Yeah, this. ST: Into Darkness was not only a poor film in its own right, it also made a joke of the original it was 'based on'. I really, really hope he doesn't do the same to Star Wars (as then he would be responsible for ruining 2 of the greatest franchises ever, and the trekkies and warsians would unite in their rage.)

My thought process about this film is basically along these lines:

Disney -> POTC/ Avengers franchises ->
JJ Abrams -> ST: ID ->
Therefore ...

Well if its post SW he's not messing with canon so a lot of that is out. He's good with action etc (ironically doesn't seem very good with big space battles at least to moi, but thats hard to do). Could we pay off Michael Stracynski and have him do any space battles? (and maybe sneak in a shadow cruiser...).
Also get some manlier men. All the ST guys looked like they couldn't bench press a flea of be seen outside with a mocha latte and a manicure.

**Seaward**

The Star Trek reboot was the first Star Trek thing I ever watched. Into Darkness was the second. Both were decent. I'm told this is because I have no idea what the original source material is, but I question just how good movies with tubby AARP members wandering around bad sets in form-fitting shirts could possibly have been.

**Manchu**

Frazzled wrote:
Yes, I cannot express the level of nerdrage I had with that movie. Interestingly, the wife who knows not the greatness of Wrath of Khan, liked it.

It was fun to watch but still dreadful.

**Frazzled**

Seaward wrote:
The Star Trek reboot was the first Star Trek thing I ever watched. Into Darkness was the second. Both were decent. I'm told this is because I have no idea what the original source material is, but I question just how good movies with tubby AARP members wandering around bad sets in form-fitting shirts could possibly have been.

Hush wee one...

**Platuan4th**

Frazzled wrote:
Manchu wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up
Into Darkness

Yes, I cannot express the level of nerdrage I had with that movie. Interestingly, the wife who knows not the greatness of Wrath of Khan, liked it.

My wife has seen Wrath several times(several years before any Abrams Trek was released, I make sure she knows these things) and still likes Into Darkness.

It can't be any worse than phantom Menace, right?

Right?

Guys?

*weeps softly*

**Sasori**

Looking good!

I enjoyed both Star Treks, including ST: Into Darkness.

I just hope they tone down the Lensflare.

**timetowaste85**

I enjoyed the old ST, especially WoK. That said, I loved the new ones, including ID. Of course, Simon Pegg makes the series, as does Bones.

**KingCracker**

Hulksmash wrote:
I like most of the shows on the CW (well, most is a little strong, I like quite a few of them)

And I really like the casting choices for the new Star Treks so I'm not seeing it as a bad thing here.

Not to mention NO FRACKING LUCAS TO MESS IT UP! That's what I'm most excited about.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Frazzled wrote:
Manchu wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
It'll be hard to mess that up
Into Darkness

Yes, I cannot express the level of nerdrage I had with that movie. Interestingly, the wife who knows not the greatness of Wrath of Khan, liked it.

Is it bad of me that I (and my wife) actually enjoyed WoK Redux? (Into Darkness basically being Wrath

)

The good news for JJ Abrams, is that with Star Wars, there are Jedi, and with Jedi are Lightsabers, and with Lightsabers there are about a Billion and a half opportunities for a lens flair shot.

**KingCracker**

Oh yea! He's gonna lens flair the gak out of us

**Platuan4th**

KingCracker wrote:
Oh yea! He's gonna lens flair the gak out of us

I anticipate a collaboration between Abrams and Bay. Nothing but explosions and lens flares as far as the eye can see, all culminating in the ultimate lens flaresplosion.

**LordofHats**

Seaward wrote:
Hulksmash wrote:
God, a Star Wars filmed not helmed by Lucas......It'll be hard to mess that up

Well, keep in mind it's JJ Abrams, so the cast is going to look like they got lost on the way to the set of a show on CW.

Light sabers will now also be blinding bright I suspect.

**d-usa**

Saber flares?

**Gitzbitah**

Platuan4th wrote:
KingCracker wrote:
Oh yea! He's gonna lens flair the gak out of us

I anticipate a collaboration between Abrams and Bay. Nothing but explosions and lens flares as far as the eye can see, all culminating in the ultimate lens flaresplosion.

Lasercats the movie: Flaresplosion

Coming to a Syfy channel near you this summer.

I'm very excited about this collaboration.

**LordofHats**

d-usa wrote:
Saber flares?

Storm Trooper accuracy will finally be lampshaded in universe!

"Jedi! Shoot him!"
*zrooom*
"I can't see!"
"Fire anyway!"

**Jihadin**

The amount of fire power being thrown around with blasters from Storm Troopers the safest place is in the cross hair unless its Han on the trigger and sitting at a table....

**Grey Templar**

Its not a question of firepower, its a question of who shoots first.

**GrimDork**

Hrmm I liked the new trek. There were some things at which I cringed... but meh thats probably just a part of me getting older and not keeping up with whats new and shiny for all of the kids.

I'm usually fairly accepting of stuff too, so I wouldn't make a great critic. Flying through space in a jetpack.... could have done without that though. Really really could have done without that. I mean I sat through most of the newer star wars without complaining. Explaining the force as bacteria and vader's nigh-impotent noooooooo... however...

We'll see, will give me something to do for an afternoon anyway.

**KommissarKiln**

Platuan4th wrote:
KingCracker wrote:
Oh yea! He's gonna lens flair the gak out of us

I anticipate a collaboration between Abrams and Bay. Nothing but explosions and lens flares as far as the eye can see, all culminating in the ultimate lens flaresplosion.

Decades from now, someone will discover the link between Star Wars fandom post-2015 and blindness or other eye conditions.

**H.B.M.C.**

Hulksmash wrote:
God, a Star Wars filmed not helmed by Lucas......It'll be hard to mess that up

You must've missed the part where they said JJ Abrams was writing it.

**VermGho5t**

I hope this is a step in the right direction. Too bad they don't have Irvin Kerschner around to direct it. PLEASE refrain from using lens flares!.

As for the Trek reboots, The first one was ok, I could live with that. The second one was just absolute gak. Abrams took what Star Trek is and gutted it, stapled lens flares everywhere, and had a 13 year old write the script.

Seaward, if you want to see the essence of what Star Trek is, just start with the Original Series, and go from there. TOS lays the foundation for the future shows which improve upon. I would say DS9 is my favorite for the character development and interaction. Also for the chance to see the darker side of the Federation.

**Maddermax**

JJ Abrams? Welp, there goes my positivity about the project.