[SW:EVII)Who'll Direct? Spielberg says no...but we've got official clues who might...

[ApexOversteer]

Officially Spielberg says "No, no. Its not my genre, that's my best friend George Lucas' genre."

You can scratch Quentin Tarantino too, not that he was even considered. QT says "I so could not care less. No, sorry. Especially if Disney’s going to do it. I’m not interested in the Simon West version of Star Wars.”

Starwars.com today released another portion of the announcement video, this time featuring Kathleen Kennedy and The Jowels discussing directors and George's role in the production of this trilogy...

Part 2: George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy: Getting Started on the New Star Wars Films - YouTube

So, Kennedy says the director is going to be someone she has worked with before. Finally we can narrow the list down! Ok, directors Kennedy has worked with include...

Spielberg
Tobe Hooper (Poltergiest)
Richard Donner (The Goonies, Superman I, Ladyhawke)
Robert Zemeckis (Back To The Future, Contact)
Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag The Dog)
Joe Dante (Explorers, Innerspace)
Matthew Robbins (Corvette Summer, Dragonslayer, *batteries not included)
Frank Marshall (Aracnophobia, Alive, Eight Below)
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Gangs Of New York)
Clint Eastwood (High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, Gran Torino)
Frank "Yoda" Oz (The Dark Crystal, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Indian In The Cupboard)
Jan de Bont (Speed, Twister)
M. Night Shyamalan (Signs, The Sixth Sense)
Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, Jumanji, Captain America: The First Avenger)
David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)...

Yeah... narrowed that right down. Sheesh.

You've got three Original Trilogy alumni there, in Frank Oz, Frank Marshall and Joe Johnston... But could you imagine a Scorsese Star Wars movie?

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by StarWars.com

As pre-production of Star Wars: Episode VII begins, Lucasfilm has confirmed that award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay for the new Star Wars film. As revealed in the ongoing video series posted here on StarWars.com, Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas have begun story conferences with Arndt. Arndt won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay for writing Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for writing Toy Story 3 (2010).

This pretty much confirms this...

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

Allegedly there is a 120+ page treatment, covering all three films in the DisTrilogy, written by Oscar winner Micheal Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3)...

... considering George has referred to "The Treatment" a few times already and now we've got Arndt's name straight from the Bantha's mouth, as it were...

Arndt also wrote The Hunger Games: Catching Fire currently filming.

[Gozar]

Nobody in that list is right IMHO.

I think Bryan Singer would be my first choice.

[ApexOversteer]

I'm betting we end up with Johnston or Robbins.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

I'm betting we end up with Johnston or Robbins.

Hopefully of those two, Johnston.

[Gozar]

Michael Bay

[CubSmurf]

Originally Posted by Gozar

Michael Bay

Puke

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by CubSmurf

Puke

Can't you see the Ewok Hero Walk shot?

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

Hopefully of those two, Johnston.

Robbins made Dragonslayer, the template for the Lord Of The Rings films, and a masterpiece. He's a better director than Johnston.

[Fasglas]

Scorcese?

Hmmmmm...

C3PO

(Pesci voice dub) " Funny? Funny how? Do I amuse you?"

(DiNiro voice dub) "You talkin' to ME?"

Either way, 3PO will probably be armed...

Oh yeah, that'll work.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

Robbins made Dragonslayer, the template for the Lord Of The Rings films, and a masterpiece. He's a better director than Johnston.

Perhaps, but Johnston handled a difficult character - a goody two shoes on par with Supes or Mickey Mouse - with 70 years of backstory and did it in a way that made it work. For a modern audience. And did it with Chris Evans who has the acting range of hickory.

I see a lot of similarities.

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

Perhaps, but Johnston handled a difficult character - a goody two shoes on par with Supes or Mickey Mouse - with 70 years of backstory and did it in a way that made it work. For a modern audience. And did it with Chris Evans who has the acting range of hickory.

I see a lot of similarities.

Well, he did study at the feet of The Jowels. I would be very pleased with Johnston as director.

I just think we'd get something more special with Robbins.