Age of The Nerd
Lucasfilm and Disney continue to make headlines as they prepare to launch their expansive shared universe beginning with Star Wars: Episode VII. The studio announced Wednesday that Josh Trank, the filmmaker of Chronicle and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot has been chosen to direct one of several upcoming stand-alone movies and continue to expand the cinematic sci-fi saga.
In the press announcement, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy stated:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Josh into the family. 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 of Episodes I through IX.”
In 2012 Disney spent $4.05 billion acquiring Lucasfilm. Almost immediately following the acquisition the studio made the announcement that Star Wars would return to the big screen for a new trilogy plus spin-off films in-between major episodes. Two years later and it full-steam ahead for Lucasfilm and at the moment things are looking pretty good for the Star Wars universe. With J.J Abrams currently in production of Star Wars: Episode VII, set to hit theaters December 18, 2015, plus the addition of directors such as Gareth Edwards and Josh Trank, it definitely seems like fans have a reason to be optimistic.
It refreshing to see the studio interested in picking young talented directors, known for their creativity and imagination. Both Edwards have shown the ability to tell compelling stories on limited budgets, while highlighting there creative techniques used to create unique visual effects. Trank captured imaginations worldwide with his directorial debut Chronicle, a fresh and engaging take on the superhero genre. Although Trank is currently at work on The Fantastic Four for 20th Century Fox, it is unlikely he will be returning to Fox for the sequel.
Trank states, “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.”
