UPDATE: Zack Snyder to Develop New ‘Star Wars’ Project aaaand It’s Denied
Warner Bros. Pictures
Zack Snyder was one of the first directors rumored to be in the running for Disney’s Star Wars: Episode VII, but he admitted to the Los Angeles Times not being interested in project despite being a huge fan of the films. The Man of Steel director will not direct the sequel, but he may expand the Star Wars universe with a new story. Vulture is reporting Snyder is developing a project parallel to the next trilogy. The untitled film will be loosely based on Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 classic), and will feature lightsaber-weilding Jedi Knights instead of katana-fighting ronin.
Where the story fits chronologically is unclear, but a source in the article claims it will stand alone, according to Vulture. If the story is true, it clearly shows Disney’s commitment to reestablishing the franchise. It’s no secret George Lucas was greatly influenced by Kurosawa’s films. The creator of Star Wars admitted being a huge fan of Seven Samurai in an interview with the Telegraph, as well as citing Hidden Fortress (another Kurosawa classic) as a major influence in his work.
Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars from Lucas last October, and immediately announced plans to release Episode VII in 2015. The film, which is without a director, is still early in development with Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) penning the screenplay.
As someone who has seen Star Wars (a couple of times…hundred times), I must admit much intrigue in the premise of this project. There are many other stories to explore in the Star Wars universe, and a team of seven Jedi Knights establishing peace and order throughout the galaxy would be very awesome.
UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter recently reported a statement from Snyder’s representative, who denied the story posted by Vulture. Another update, millions of aspiring Jedi are heartbroken.
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