STAR WARS Spinoff Titled ROGUE ONE; Episode VIII Release Date Announced

Disney offered some very interesting "Star Wars" updates today. The first announcement is that "Star Wars: Episode VIII" will be released on May 26, 2017 and Rian Johnson ("Looper") has been confirmed as writer and director. While Johnson's name had been attached to this project for months, this is the first time Disney confirmed it officially. Here is the press release:

"Bob Iger confirmed that Rian Johnson will write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. The film, which continues the saga after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is set for release on May 26, 2017 — forty years and a day after the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Johnson is widely considered one of cinema’s most gifted young filmmakers, having directed the modern sci-fi classic, Looper, as well as Brick and The Brothers Bloom. He was also behind the camera for three episodes of the critically-acclaimed TV series Breaking Bad, including “Ozymandias,” which series creator Vince Gilligan named as the best installment of the show. Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman, producer of Looper, Don Jon, Brick, and The Brothers Bloom, are on board to produce, and J.J. Abrams will serve as executive producer."

The second bit of news brings some major updates for the "Star Wars" spinoff. Disney revealed that the movie will be called "Star Wars: Rogue One" and Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything") has been officially cast. The title brings to mind the old LucasArts games "Rogue Squadron" and "Rebel Assault". The first focused on the titular squadron of rebel fighter pilots and the latter had a fighter pilot protagonist with the handle Rookie One. Neither game is considered canon but it sounds like the spinoff could be related to the fighter pilot part of the "Star Wars" universe. The film will be directed by Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla") and written by Chris Weitz ("About A Boy"). Here is the official press release:

"Rogue One is the title for the first film in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga. Rogue One will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla) and written by Oscar nominee Chris Weitz (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz). The first actress cast is Felicity Jones, who garnered an Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim for her performance in The Theory of Everything. The idea for the story of Rogue One came from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic. He will executive produce along with Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds). Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) are on board to produce and John Swartz (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) will co-produce. The film starts shooting this summer in London and is due for release on December 16, 2016."

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