Disney/Lucasfilm Courting Writer Lawrence Kasdan to Return to STAR WARS Franchise

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Following the report that Michael Arndt had been recruited to pen the upcoming STAR WARS: EPISODE VII for Disney/Lucasfilm, Deadline has uncovered that the studios have begun reaching out to other writers take on subsequent STAR WARS installments. Included are Lawrence Kasdan, the writer behind previous STAR WARS films - and Simon Kinberg (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS.)

Kasdan is best known for writing THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 1980 and RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1983. He also penned the Indiana Jones flick RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, also for Lucas.

Kinsberg scripted 2011's X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and its future follow-up X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. He also wrote SHERLOCK HOLMES, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

As previously reported by TalkMovies World, Disney's acquirement of Lucasfilm included a bold plan to create a STAR WARS film every other year beginning in 2015.

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm’s legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Warsfeature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world’s top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney’s strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney’s very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney’s portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company’s ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world’s highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

Regardless of fans' feelings towards reviving what was considered a finished franchise - STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is tentatively set for a theatrical release in 2015. And if Disney has it their way, many more are set to come.