The first round draft of dream directors on the fans lists to helm Star Wars: Episode VII is dwindling fast. Sorry, but we can now officially count Brad Bird out of the running too.
When grilled on his Twitter page, the director behind Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol shot down the talk that he will tackle the first sequel to Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, set to hit the big screen in 2015.
Where do these rumors start concerning Bird? Well, the director has been previously confirmed to direct a “super secret” sci-fi film called 1952 for Disney (which recently purchased Lucasfilm), written by Lost and Prometheus writer Damon Lindelof. Add in the fact that Disney also owns Pixar, and Toy Story 3 scripter Michael Arndt is penning the Episode VII screenplay. In this case there was ample rumor fuel available to throw onto fire that 1952 was a cover, and Bird was in fact instead on board for the Star Wars gig.
“@rsavenell: You are on people’s lists as top choice for Star Wars, yet haven’t confirmed. Please end this tease!”Not doing Star Wars.
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) November 18, 2012
“@clarkgoble: tell me your next one is the new Star Wars!”Nope. A science fiction film. Not Star Wars.
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) November 18, 2012
“@geoffbreedwell: You’re not doing EP7? Why not? You’re perfect for it!”Thanks. But the science fiction film I AM doing is gonna be cool.
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) November 18, 2012
That said, Michael Arndt is a fantastic writer and Kathy Kennedy is a brilliant producer. I will be first in line to see the new STAR WARS.
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) November 18, 2012
Most of us would agree Bird would have been a perfect fit in the Star Wars universe. Although the wait continues, it may not ne much longer. Producer Frank Marshall claims he knows the identity of the chosen one, and obvioulsy is under the strictest orders of secrecy. “I do,” he said when asked by MTV, “But I can’t reveal it, or I won’t be alive tomorrow.”
Marshall added that he doesn’t know exactly when the director will be announced, but the search is down to “a couple of candidates, but I don’t know how soon that will be revealed.” Thankfully we can count Marshall as a solid source for information, he married to Kathleen Kennedy, the new head of Lucasfilm and George Lucas’s sucessor as Executive Producer to all things Star Wars, including the next slate of films.
SOURCES: Brad Bird Twitter, Collider
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