In the wake of writer Gary Whitta's departure from director Gareth Edwards' upcoming "Star Wars" spinoff flick, a new screenwriter has been engaged to explore the galaxy far, far away.
"About a Boy" co-director/co-writer Chris Weitz, who was nominated for an Oscar for writing that screenplay, is the new scribe on the film, accoring to The Hollywood Reporter.
Whitta left the untitled project after working on and completing a first draft over the course of a year. It's unclear how much of his vision for the spinoff will actually make it to theaters. The prolific Simon Kinberg was rumored to have replaced him as the screenwriter, but it now appears that Weitz is the man for the job.
In addition to his work on "About a Boy," Weitz is known for writing the upcoming "Cinderella" adaptation, directing and penning "The Golden Compass," helming mega-blockbuster "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and directing eventual Oscar nominee Demian Bichir in "A Better Life."
As for exactly what the exact plot of the spinoff will be, it is still very much unclear. Rumors about the project point to it centering on a group of bounty hunters who steal plans for the first Death Star. If those plot details are at all accurate, then it's also possible that, as rumored, Boba Fett and Han Solo will make appearances. Also, several actresses (Tatiana Maslany, Felicity Jones, Rooney Mara and Kate Mara) are known to be testing for roles.
The film is due in theaters on December 16, 2016. It's one of two "Star Wars" spinoffs coming down the pike..."Fantastic Four" director Josh Trank has been tapped to direct the second.
