Be Still My Beating Heart; Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg Might Be Writing Star Wars Spinoffs Instead of Episodes VIII and IX

Hey, it’s been like a whole week since we’ve had any real Star Wars news, hasn’t it? Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, here’s an interesting tidbit: You remember how it was reported that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg would probably be writing Episodes VIII and IX? And that LucasFilm hadn’t confirmed it, but various reliable sources were treating it as a sure thing? Turns out it’s not so sure after all. As it turns out, Kasdan and Kinberg are (probably) still writing Star Wars films… but they might be spinoffs focusing on secondary characters, not Episodes VIII and IX.

Disney. Give me my Rogue Squadron movie. Or Wraith Squadron. That is also acceptable. Or both!

According to THR, Kasdan and Kinberg’s

scripts could turn into official “Episodes” in the main Skywalker storyline, or they could form the basis for spinoffs focusing on side characters. Disney CEO Robert Iger said the goal is to release a Star Wars movie “every two to three years,” and some could easily focus on other pieces of the expansive mythos (similar to Marvel’s Avengers universe).

It’s by no means a sure thing—Kasdan and Kinberg could still be writing and producing actual trilogy films—but something about this spinoff rumor makes sense to me. When the news broke that Michael Arndt would be writing Episosde VII, LucasFilm confirmed it within a day or so. And yet it’s been a week since the K&K news with nary a peep from the powers that be. Plus we already knew that there would be films beyond the sequel trilogy, even if there was no indication that they’d be happening so soon.

/Film speculates that a spinoff or two might come out between Episodes VII and VIII and again between VIII and IX, much in the same way Marvel is releasing individual character movies between The Avengers and its sequel. It may turn out not to be true, but it’s definitely interesting.

Lest we put ourselves in danger of counting our gundarks before they hatch, let’s indulge in a little brainstorming ourselves: What side character would you most like to see get their own movie? Like I’ve said, my vote is for Rogue Squadron, but Mara Jade would also be good. (Who am I kidding? Mara Jade would be excellent.) Or a pre-series Han Solo. Or Qui-Gon Jinn, maybe? Pitch me, Star Wars fans. Or is this whole spinoff idea a bunch of malarkey?

(via: /Film)

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