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Gareth Edwards to Direct ‘Star Wars’ Spin-Off
‘Godzilla’ director Gareth Edwards has been lined up to direct the first ‘Star Wars’ spin-off movie.
Edwards will work on the untitled Star Wars 3D stand-alone with screenwriter Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli). No plot details have been confirmed as yet, but Disney previously announced a series of spin-off "origins" movies to be released in the gaps between its proposed new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. Lucasfilm made the announcement on StarWars.com yesterday.
Commenting on his new role, Edwards said; “Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life - join the Rebel Alliance. I could not be more excited and honoured to go on this mission with Lucasfilm." Whitta also added, "From the moment I first saw the original movie as a wide-eyed kid, ‘Star Wars’ has been the single most profound inspiration to my imagination and to my career as a writer. It is deeply special to me, so to be given the opportunity to contribute to its ongoing legacy, especially in collaboration with a filmmaker as talented as Gareth, is literally a dream come true. I'm still pinching myself."
JJ Abrams' ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’, is currently shooting at London's Pinewood Studios in preparation for a December 2015 release date.
Lifetime Sets Whitney Houston Movie
Lifetime announced yesterday that it is making a Whitney Houston movie and has tapped Angela Bassett to direct.
The pic chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer-songwriter Bobby Brown — from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage, which ended in 2007. Bassett will make her directorial debut on the movie, currently titled ‘Whitney Houston’. Bassett and Lifetime previously collaborated on last year’s original movie ‘Betty & Coretta’, starring Bassett and Mary J. Blige. With Shem Bitterman penning the script, ‘Whitney Houston’ will be produced by the Sanitsky Company and Larry Sanitsky will serve as executive producer.
“I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments, and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” said Bassett. “Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I’m beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world.”
No cast has been announced but Lifetime has said the movie is slated to premiere in 2015.
Kristen Stewart & Juliette Binoche in ‘Clouds Of Sils Maria’
Olivier Assayas latest drama ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ is debuting in France today at the international Cannes Film Festival.
Featuring Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche, the story follows an aging actress (Binoche) at the peak of her international career who is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous 20 years ago. With her assistant (Stewart) in tow, she heads off to rehearse in Sils Maria, a remote region of the Alps. The younger role she played in the beginning of her career has gone to a younger actress (Chloe Grace Moretz), and she finds herself reflecting on the star she used to be. Written and directed by Assayas, ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ also stars Brady Corbet, Johnny Flynn and Hans Zischler. The German-French-Swiss co-production is producer by Gérard Ruey, Thanassis Karathanos, Charles Gillibert, Karl Baumgartner and Jean-Louis Porchet.
IFC Films releases the film later this year. Check out the trailer below:
