So although he left Star Wars: The Force Awakens and his vision for the Sequel Trilogy largely changed after his departure, Michael Arndt still left his mark on a galaxy far, far away. Nationality Other works of note Screenwriter It wasn’t enough to just make a new Star Wars movie; Disney and Lucasfilm had to resurrect a cinematic franchise that was dormant for a decade, return it to its former glory following a creatively disappointing Prequel Trilogy, and above all else, craft a fitting continuation of the medium’s most iconic story. One of the people tasked with achieving all of this was screenwriter Michael Arndt. Star Wars: The Force Awakens screenwriters J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, and Michael Arndt talk about trying to find a proper storyline for the film. UPDATE 2: Lucasfilm has confirmed that Michael Arndt is writing the Star Wars: Episode VII script. He was eventually replaced, with screenwriting duties being handed over to Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams. He is a writer, known for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire … Michael Arndt’s ending for Star Wars: The Force Awakens would have also altered Episode VIII and beyond. Well, as is the case with most of the creative turnover in the Disney era of Star Wars, we may never have a complete picture, and can only go off of what we’ve heard and what’s been said. Born On November 9, 2012, Disney Studios confirmed that it and Lucasfilm had selected Arndt to write the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens in early 2013. Michael Arndt’s script apparently leaned into the generational aspects of the Skywalker Saga and focused more heavily on the offspring of Luke, Han and Leia (although it’s not clear whose offspring), with the trio playing more of a supporting role. Before J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi) took over writing duties on The Force Awakens, Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) was working on its script as soon as Disney acquired Lucasfilm and its intellectual properties with the plan of bringing back the film franchise. At least as far as The Force Awakens is concerned, fans may have liked seeing Han and Leia get something of a happy ending. Michael Arndt will write the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII. Michael Arndt, who wrote the brilliant Toy Story 3, has even admitted to struggling with certain aspects of the script. Michael Arndt was born on November 11, 1965 in Harris County, Texas, USA as Michael deBruyn Arndt. Of course, if Michael Arndt’s script had been used, and Rey and Luke met up earlier, it would have fundamentally altered the direction of Episode VIII and probably that film's controversial approach to Luke's character. UPDATE, 5:57 PM: LucasFilm confirmed today that Michael Arndt will be writing the next Star Wars movie. Now, it is important to note that because he was brought on before Disney purchased Lucasfilm, it is difficult to parse which ideas from Michael Arndt’s script were based on George Lucas’ treatment and which ones he came up with after Lucas’ ideas were scrapped. But regardless of why he left or whether or not he finished a complete draft of the script, we do know a fair bit about what Michael Arndt had in mind for Episode VII. Also, it seems that a desire to focus on the newer characters is what made Luke such a difficult character to deal with for Michael Arndt. In addition, the trailers have shown Rey and friends approaching the wreckage of the Death Star, as well as her and Kylo standing in the Emperor’s throne room. Michael Arndt is an American screenwriter best known for writing the screenplays for the films Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Toy Story 3 (2010), and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013). [1] It was Arndt's idea to hold back Luke Skywalker's training of Rey from The Force Awakens, where it was originally planned to appear, for Episode VIII.[2]. The Star Wars world was shook last last month when it was announced screenwriter Michael Arndt was leaving Star Wars Episode VII. Little Miss SunshineToy Story 3 Lucasfilm actually brought Michael Arndt on board to write treatments for all three films of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, working with George Lucas and consultant Lawrence Kasdan prior to the Disney purchase. And Rey’s new mentor Han dying was an obvious parallel to Luke’s mentor Obi-Wan dying in A New Hope. American He worked on the script for Star Wars Episode VII from 2012 to 2013, before screenwriting duties were taken over by director J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan. With Luke now dead, this quest won’t be about finding the location of the Jedi temples in order to find the Jedi Master, but the team is definitely heading to the monument of evil for a reason. The biggest reported difference between Michael Arndt’s Star Wars: Episode VII and what we got with Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the film’s character focus. [Source] Michael Arndt is an Amerian screenwriter most notably known for writing Little Miss Sunshine, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and Toy Story 3. There’s a lot we don’t know about Michael Arndt’s Episode VII and what his vision was for the Sequel Trilogy as a whole. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. This would have surely resulted in a different Sequel Trilogy overall. It’s difficult to know exactly how Han living would have altered the arc of the story, but it seems likely that at least two of the original trio characters would have made it to Episode IX, and not just Leia. Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens Supposedly Michael Arndt was struggling with the script, and with a release date set, the production simply didn’t have time to wait, so someone else had to take over. The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine was the first person tapped to bring Star Wars: Episode VII to life on the page when he was formally hired to write the film's screenplay. Michael Arndt, Writer: Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Just recently Entertainment Weekly 's Anthony Breznican released audio from a panel he moderated a panel at the Writer's Guild of America, West. The Personal History Of David Copperfield, 'One Night In Miami' Interviews With Regina King, Leslie Odom Jr. And More, Letterkenny Interviews with Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K. Trevor Wilson & More, Kevin Feige Talks Marvel Phase Four, Disney+, WandaVision & More, Netflix Apologizes After Bloody Sunday Tweet For Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina Went Viral. Luke was too awesome and his arrival too exciting, and he kept overshadowing Rey. Episode 1: Michael Arndt, “Endings”. Could Law And Order: SVU Send A Character To Christopher Meloni's Stabler Spinoff? We’ll probably never know the answers to those questions, but interestingly, it seems that some of the ideas from Michael Arndt’s time on Star Wars: Episode VII will actually make their way into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But that was a change made by J.J. Abrams. His life goal is to walk the earth, meet people and get into adventures. Michael Arndt Discusses The Origins Of 'The Force Awakens' Story & Characters. It may have seemed like the completion of the Disney deal is what spurred the creation of new Star Wars movies, but that isn’t entirely true. Was Emperor Palpatine ever part of the long-term equation? According to Lawrence Kasdan, when he came aboard, they had nothing, and it has been reported that Michael Arndt had failed to produce a single full draft of the script. Surface Laptop Go; Surface Pro X; Surface Go 2; Surface Book 3 Han Solo would have been back in Episode VIII and we would have had the chance to potentially see the original trio onscreen together in that middle chapter, which is something many have lamented the Sequel Trilogy has missed out on. How Wookieepedia treats Canon and Legends, 'Catching Fire' movie, 'Toy Story 3' writer wanted for 'Star Wars Episode 7' - Chicago Pop Culture, https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Michael_Arndt?oldid=9244694. [1] So the Dark Side artifact will come back into the story, albeit not when and not necessarily how it was intended. Having now seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the focus isn’t as clear-cut as that. That’s what makes the period in Star Wars history from around 2012-2015, involving the genesis of Episode VII and the first chapter of the Sequel Trilogy, particularly fascinating. Writer Michael Arndt explains how he introduced Luke Skywalker in early drafts of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and why it didn't work. UPDATE: Michael Arndt is now reported to have written a treatment for Star Wars: Episodes VII-IX.. In the trailers for Episode IX, we see Rey and Kylo Ren in battle and destroying what appears to be Darth Vader’s helmet. Screenwriter Michael Arndt described Sam as “pure charisma” and the early concept art showed him as a young white man. Following the Disney purchase, Lucasfilm officially confirmed that Michael Arndt would be the screenwriter for Episode VII. Some of the reported elements from earlier versions of The Force Awakens included a search for Darth Vader’s remains and a journey to the underwater wreckage of the second Death Star to recover information about the location of Jedi temples throughout the galaxy. Lucasfilm actually brought Michael Arndt on board to write treatments for all three films of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, working with George Lucas and consultant Lawrence Kasdan … What was his plan for Snoke and the Knights of Ren? Wookieepedia is a FANDOM Movies Community. Posted by Ben Hart on 1/18/2016 0 comments. These comments from … Michael Arndt may share a screenwriting credit on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but what we know about his script paints a picture of a very different Episode VII than what we got. Screenwriter Michael Arndt is exiting "Star Wars: Episode VII" with director J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan assuming scripting duties. Locked Down Ending Explained: What Do Linda And Paxton Do In ‘The Moment’? That’s why they ultimately pushed him to the end of the movie. Word has it that Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) will be among the writers on Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Episode VII. Maybe the difference with the focus of Michael Arndt’s script was simply that Han Solo wasn’t as prominent. I want to see what he’s going to do.’. Star Wars work Arndt, repped by Verve, is described as a huge Star Wars fan and well-versed in the lore of the mythology. Career Michael: Obviously, there’s no right or wrong way to tell a story. According to Michael Arndt, he thought that the story was about bringing Harrison Ford’s Han and Carrie Fisher’s Leia back together. He is best known as the writer of the films Little … Beginnings Endings TS3: Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned TS3: Introduction TS3: Opening TS3: Inciting Incident TS3: First Act Break TS3: Midpoint TS3: Second … Of course as we know, his vision is not the one that made it to the screen in 2015. By: Benjamin Hart. Bringing Star Wars back to the big screen was no easy thing. But one character that might have gotten more shine, and maybe even a line or two of dialogue, was Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker. Would he have killed Luke? Suddenly you didn’t care about your main character anymore because, ‘Oh fuck, Luke Skywalker’s here. That means a journey to the second Death Star will show up two movies after originally planned. Biographical information Leia is more of a supporting character and Luke Skywalker isn’t even in the movie until the very end. McLean, Virginia What if Star Wars: The Force Awakens had used the Michael Arndt script? Portions of content provided by Tivo Corporation - © 2020 Tivo Corporation What's new. On November 9, 2012, Disney Studios confirmed that it and Lucasfilm had selected Arndt to write the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens in early 2013. In his early drafts, Rey’s home is destroyed, leading her to go off on the road and meet Luke Skywalker, but it just never worked. Furthermore, all indications are that the film changed significantly when J.J. 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