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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Godzilla director to make Star Wars spin-off | Godzilla director to make Star Wars spin-off |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| British director Gareth Edwards, who made the recent Godzilla movie, is set to direct a Star Wars spin-off film, Walt Disney Co has confirmed. | British director Gareth Edwards, who made the recent Godzilla movie, is set to direct a Star Wars spin-off film, Walt Disney Co has confirmed. |
| The unnamed film will be in addition to the forthcoming Star Wars trilogy, the first instalment of which will be directed by JJ Abrams. | The unnamed film will be in addition to the forthcoming Star Wars trilogy, the first instalment of which will be directed by JJ Abrams. |
| Writer Gary Whitta, who penned the script for 2010's The Book of Eli, will write the screenplay for Edwards' film. | Writer Gary Whitta, who penned the script for 2010's The Book of Eli, will write the screenplay for Edwards' film. |
| The film is due to be released on 16 December 2016. | The film is due to be released on 16 December 2016. |
| In a statement, Edwards said: "Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life - join the Rebel Alliance! | In a statement, Edwards said: "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 honoured to go on this mission." | "I could not be more excited and honoured to go on this mission." |
| Whitta echoed his sentiments and said the "opportunity to contribute" was "literally a dream come true". | Whitta echoed his sentiments and said the "opportunity to contribute" was "literally a dream come true". |
| Box office success | Box office success |
| Edwards' recent 3D film Godzilla topped the US box office chart and has taken more than $216m (£128m) worldwide, according to Boxofficemojo. | |
| He also won widespread acclaim for his independent film Monsters, which was released in 2010. | |
| The original Star Wars trilogy - which consists of the original film in 1977, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi - was always envisaged by creator George Lucas as the central chunk of a nine-movie cycle. | The original Star Wars trilogy - which consists of the original film in 1977, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi - was always envisaged by creator George Lucas as the central chunk of a nine-movie cycle. |
| The films followed the fortunes of young hero Luke Skywalker, cocky pilot Han Solo and the feisty Princess Leia as they battled against the Galactic Empire. | The films followed the fortunes of young hero Luke Skywalker, cocky pilot Han Solo and the feisty Princess Leia as they battled against the Galactic Empire. |
| A trilogy of Star Wars prequels - 1999's The Phantom Menace, 2002's Attack of the Clones and 2005's Revenge of the Sith - followed. | A trilogy of Star Wars prequels - 1999's The Phantom Menace, 2002's Attack of the Clones and 2005's Revenge of the Sith - followed. |
| Disney - which announced it had bought Lucasfilm for $4.05bn (£2.5bn) in 2012 - has previously said Lucas would remain as a creative consultant on the forthcoming trilogy, which begins with Star Wars: Episode VII, due to be released next year. | Disney - which announced it had bought Lucasfilm for $4.05bn (£2.5bn) in 2012 - has previously said Lucas would remain as a creative consultant on the forthcoming trilogy, which begins with Star Wars: Episode VII, due to be released next year. |