We already knew Michael Arndt would be writing Star Wars: Episode VII and wrote a treatment for the next two after that, but we didn’t know who the writers for Episodes VIII and IX would be. Since Lucasfilm plans to release at least one movie per year starting in 2015, they’ll need to get the scripts polished soon. To that end, THR says Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg have signed to write and produce either Episode VIII or Episode IX.
All three writers are interesting picks. Lawrence Kasdan co-wrote two other Star Wars films (The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), as well as writing Raiders of the Lost Ark. Michael Arndt wrote Toy Story 3 and won an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine. Simon Kinberg wrote xXx: State of the Union, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Jumper . . .
One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong. Can you tell which thing is not like the others by the time I finish my song?
[Hat tip to THR and Kissing Suzy Kolber for the assist with the banner picture.]