Godzilla’s Gareth Edwards to Direct New Star Wars Spin-Off Movie

We've known that Lucasfilm and Disney have been planning a number of stand-alone Star Wars movies, with the rumor being that we could potentially see separate Boba Fett, Yoda, and Han Solo movies. While we still don't know who will be at the focus of the first spin-off, it has been officially announced that Godzilla's Gareth Edwards has been hired to direct the movie:

"In addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney have begun development on multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga. Gareth Edwards will direct the first stand-alone film, with a screenplay by Gary Whitta. The film is due out December 16, 2016.

Gareth Edwards blazed into the filmmaking forefront with his acclaimed work on Monsters, a film he wrote, directed and served on as cinematographer and visual effects artist. The skill and vision readily apparent in Monsters earned him the high-profile spot directing this year's smash hit Godzilla.

"Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life -- join the Rebel Alliance! I could not be more excited and honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm," said Edwards.

Gary Whittas screenwriting credits include 2010's The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. He is also well known as a journalist and editor in the video game industry, as well as part of the BAFTA award-winning team on Telltale Games adaptation of The Walking Dead.

Whitta states, 'From the moment I first saw the original movie as a wide-eyed kid, Star Wars has been the single most profound inspiration to my imagination and to my career as a writer. It is deeply special to me,so to be given the opportunity to contribute to its ongoing legacy, especially in collaboration with a film-maker as talented as Gareth, is literally a dream come true. I'm still pinching myself.'"

For those hoping that we'd see another Godzilla movie right away, this announcement means that we won't see a Godzilla sequel for at least a few years. According to Legendary Pictures' Thomas Tull, it has always been the plan for Gareth Edwards to direct another film before a Godzilla sequel and that a trilogy of movies is planned:

via Collider: "The plan has always been for Gareth to direct a different film before we started on another Godzilla, but who knew it would a Star Wars installment? We have a great plan in store for Godzilla fans and I am looking forward to seeing Gareth’s imprint on the Star Wars universe."