SAN FRANCISCO, June 4 (UPI) -- Lucasfilm plans to further expand the Star Wars universe.
The production company announced on Wednesday that Josh Trank (Chronicle) will direct a standalone Star Wars film. The movie will not be part of the new Star Wars: Episode VII trilogy, and will be a spinoff based on the main body of work.
"We're thrilled to welcome Josh into the family," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "He is such an incredible talent and has a great imagination and sense of innovation. That makes him perfectly suited to Star Wars, and for this new slate of movies that reach beyond the core characters and story lines of Episodes I through IX."
"The magic of the Star Wars universe defined my entire childhood," the director said. "The opportunity to expand on that experience for future generations is the most incredible dream of all time."
Lucasfilm has two Star Wars spinoffs in the works, and Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) was brought on in May to direct one of the two. The films are rumored to focus on Han Solo and Boba Fett, but Trank and Edwards have not been assigned specific story lines yet.
Trank's next release is the Fantastic Four reboot with Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell. The movie is scheduled for release June 19, 2015.
