'Stars Wars VII' To Be Written By 'Toy Story 3'

Now that "Star Wars" fans have had some time to digest the news that a new "Star Wars" trilogy is on the way, it's time for another round of analysis and reactions with new rumors that "Star Wars Episode VII" has found its screenwriter.
According to a report from New York magazine's Vulture blog, Oscar-winning scribe Michael Arndt might have the job. Vulture cites key insiders who claim the "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Toy Story 3" writer has written "a 40- to 50-page treatment for the film," and if he's not the writer of the film he will at last be one of the writers on the Disney/Lucasfilm project, currently scheduled to begin shooting in 2014. Meanwhile Deadline reports that Arndt has written treatments for not one, but all three new "Star Wars" films.

Arndt is no stranger to writing blockbuster and event scripts: He penned "Hunger Games: Catching Fire," as well as Tom Cruise's futuristic adventure "Oblivion." Also working to Arndt's advantage is the fact that he already has a close working relationship with Disney via "Toy Story 3" and his screenplay for Pixar's untitled movie by "Up" director Pete Docter. Not only that, but Vulture's report highlights Arndt's deep appreciation for and knowledge of George Lucas' complicated and beloved "Star Wars" world, in that he has referenced the enduring appeal of "Star Wars" in multiple lectures on the art of storytelling.
In addition to the news of Arndt as a potential screenwriter for "Episode VII," his 40-page treatment is rumored to be gracing the desks of A-list sci-fi/fantasy-inclined directors like Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Brad Bird ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," "The Incredibles"). There has been no official word from Arndt's camp, and Lucasfilm declined comment on the story.
"Episode VII" is set to be released in 2015, and no matter what new faces and characters are introduced in the new film, its original stars, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, have all expressed interest in returning to their iconic characters.