Gary Whitta Leaves The 2016 Stand Alone Star Wars Film

By: Dominic Jones

The first Star Wars Stand Alone film, slated for a December 16, 2016 release date has lost one of its long time crew members.   It was announced today by The Hollywood Reporter that Gary Whitta was leaving the project.  In a statement, Whitta said, "The year I spent working with Lucasfilm on this Star Wars film has been by far the most rewarding period of my entire career. As a lifelong Star Wars fan I’m deeply grateful to have had the rare opportunity to contribute to a new chapter in its ongoing cinematic legacy. The film is going to be amazing."

Director of the 2016 stand alone film Gareth Edwards thanked Whitta for his contributions to the project saying, "Gary has been a wonderful, inspired contributor and I enjoyed working with him tremendously.  I’m so grateful for all of his contributions."  Edwards is believed to have worked with with Whitta since at least May of 2014, and Whitta is believed to have completed the first draft of the screenplay.

Disney and Lucasfilm declined to comment to The Hollywood Reporter about if a new writer had been hired already (though I wouldn't be surprised if one has, and they will be announced when the time is right).  As for what's next for Whitta, he stated on twitter that he is now working on the adaptation of Mark Millar's comic book miniseries Starlight might be next for him.

Whitta also tweeted out an image that he called "by far the most I’ve ever enjoyed writing a title page" check it out below,

This is by far the most I’ve ever enjoyed writing a title page. See you in 2016! #MTFBWY pic.twitter.com/Wr3Ij1XUKj
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) January 10, 2015

Whitta's time working on Star Wars may have been controversial at times, but on behalf of The SWU I would like to thank him for his work on the new Star Wars films and wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.  

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.