JOSH   TRANK   TO   DIRECT   STAR   WARS   SPIN-OFF.
We all knew that when Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars, they were never just going to make a trilogy, so the news of spin-off films between the trilogy came as no surprise to anyone. A few weeks ago news of who would direct the first spin-off surfaced with Godzilla director, Gareth Edwards, getting the gig. New news has broken that Chronicle director, Josh Trank, has signed up to direct the second spin-off. 

"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 to Episodes I through IX".  While we still don't know what the spin-offs will centre on many have speculated that they could be about a young Hans Solo or fan favourite, Boba Fett. The director has this to say, "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." Disney seem to making the smart move of brining on talent who have a real love of the original trilogy with Trank joining Gareth Edwards and J.J. Abrams. Trank first came to people's attention with Chronicle and is currently working on Fox's reboot of the Fantastic Four.

STAR   WARS   EPISODE   VII   PHOTO   LEAKED   ONLINE.
Another day, another Star Wars new story. Only yesterday I reported on the news of Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie joining J.J. Abrams' film and today more has been revealed from the set of the seventh instalment. The photo that was leaked online clearly shows the building of Hans Solo's infamous, Millennium Falcon. As soon as Harrison Ford was reported to star as Solo with Peter Mayhew coming wookie, Chewbecca, Star Wars fans had their fingers crossed that Abrams would bring back the Falcon and those fingers can safely be uncrossed with these leaked photos. Abrams has also said recently that he is attempting to us as little CGI as possible. I am waiting for the news that Abrams is going to use as little lens flare as possible, that will be a newsworthy story. 

LUPITA   NYONG'O   AND   GWENDOLINE   CHRISTIE   JOIN   STAR   WARS.

When news first broke about the Star Wars Episode VII cast some people online complained about a lack of female characters in the seventh instalment. Well today news has broken which should please the nay sayers with 12 Years a Slave actress, Lupita Nyong'o set to join the cast along with Game of Thrones actress, Gwendoline Christie. Lucas Film released this statement: Lupita Nyong'o joins the recently announced cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. This year, her breakthrough performance in 12 Years a Slave earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Gwendoline Christie, currently starring in the hit television series Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast in the production. She can next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2. "I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII," says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. "It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape." 

The thirty one year old Nyong'o graduated from Yale's drama school and went straight into Steve McQueen's Oscar winning 12 Years a Slave. The actress went onto to win the best supporting Oscar for her role as Patsy, a fearsome field slave who is trapped in the brutal world of slavery. Many speculated that Hollywood might fall to utilise the talent of the young actress but those rumours can be put to bed now the actress will be propelled into the stratosphere in the biggest film this decade. Nyongo's performance was one of the best things about McQueen's film and while it is uncertain who she will play, her inclusion in the cast adds more talent to an already strong cast. Also joining the cast is Game of Thrones actress, Gwendoline Christie. Her performance as female knight, Brienne of Tarth, in George R.R. Martin's HBO series has gained the actress a strong following. A lot of news has been coming out of JJ Abrams' seventh instalment to the world's biggest franchise with set pictures making their way online in the last few weeks.    

Director Brad Bird is far luckier then Andrew Stanton. Stanton's jump from animation to live action wasn't quite as successful as he may have hoped after John Carter goes down alongside Cleopatra and Waterworld as a hopeless fail. But Bird's transition from the animated world to the real life was far more successful with the massively popular Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. So when the seventh Star Wars film was announced Bird's name was one of the first names to pop up on fans lists. And it has been revealed early rumors were true after Bird admitted that he was approached to direct one of the biggest films of the decade. "I’ve known Kathy [Kennedy] for a while and I know George. And they did come to me. But the problem was, the schedule they had in mind made it impossible to do…unless I dropped Tomorrowland.…We had reached a critical mass where it would’ve thrown the furniture around from the train stopping. I really want to see this movie. I love the Star Wars films, and I can’t wait to see what J.J. does, but it meant I’d have to shut down one dream to participate in another. I feel like [with Tomorrowland] we’re making something that’s really special and unique." 

Bird also revealed that he is tempted to return to Pixar, hoping to make a sequel to superhero film The Incredibles, stating that: "I have been thinking about it. People think that I have not been, but I have. Because I love those characters and love that world. I am stroking my chin and scratching my head. I have many, many elements that I think would work really well in another [Incredibles] film."  A sequel to The Incredibles would be pretty inviting, especially in a time obsessed with superheroes. As long as the new installment outshines Pixars' Cars 2, their first sequel, which was met with less critical acclaim then Pixar are used to. Before we can see The Incredibles 2, Bird needs to finish Tomorrowland, a science fiction film starring George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, scripted by Damon Lindelof.