Zack Snyder might not be directing one of the episodes in the new Star Wars trilogy, but he still appears to be working on something for the Disney-owned franchise. A new report contends the Man of Steel director will helm a Star Wars spinoff, likely one of the films that Laurence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are working on.
According to Vulture, the movie "will not be considered part of the 'numbered' episodes, but rather a stand-alone film set sometime post–Episode VI events." The project reportedly will be loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.
There's no word yet on an anticipated timeline. However, Disney CEO Bob Iger had said fans can expect a Star Wars feature film "every two or three years" after Star Wars: Episode VII debuts in 2015, so it could be that some of those projects will be spinoffs while others will be numbered sequels. A Lucasfilm representative declined to comment on the Vulture piece.
When he was asked in November about directing Star Wars: Episode VII, Snyder told the Los Angeles Times he had no interest in touching the franchise.
“I don’t think I’d be interested in [directing it],” he said. “I’m a huge Star Wars fanatic. I just think doing [episodes] seven, eight and nine is just a slippery slope. It’s a whole other mythological experiment I’m excited to see, but it’s a lot of effort.”
Updated (2:45 p.m.): Snyder's spokesperson denies the Vulture report, telling Heat Vision, "While he is super flattered because he is a huge fan, Zack is not involved in any way with the new Star Wars. He is currently in post on his two films, Man of Steel and 300: Battle of Artemisia.” The representative clarified that means no Episode VII, VII or IX, and no spinoffs.