Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm last year and announced they were moving forward with more Star Wars films, fans have been rabid with excitement. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a lot of news to go on, considering the movie doesn't even hit theaters until December 2015. We do know that Michael Arndt was brought in to write a draft of the script, but has since left the project and been replaced by Empire Strikes Back scribe Lawrence Kasdan. And, we know that JJ Abrams will be at the helm, leaving the Star Trek franchise behind in favor of that galaxy far, far away. The film will, of course, be Episode VII in the saga, and will pick up sometime after the events of Return of the Jedi. The original trio, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, are expected to reprise their iconic roles but have yet to officially sign on. Other than that, we've got no solid news. What we DO have are countless plot and casting rumors. We've heard a plethora of names thrown around as being in contention for the film, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Michael B. Jordan, Matt Smith, Saoirse Ronan, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Now, we've got another name to add to the list, and it's a surprising but intriguing one. The Wrap reported Friday that Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights alum Jesse Plemons is being strongly considered for the film and has already submitted a well-received recorded audition and has been asked to return and speak to JJ. The Wrap doesn't know what his role may be, but as I said it's an intriguing idea. Plemons was great on Breaking Bad, making his character Todd one of the best supporting players in the series. He gave his character such a naive sense of friendly charm that had just a hint of creepiness (which was confirmed by the character's sociopathic behavior). Of course, it's impossible to say whether or not this is true or if Plemons will be cast in the film, but with production hoping to go underway soon, expect some official announcements in the near future. That will do it for this week's news wrap-up! What did you think about the small but intriguing stories this week? Would you like to see Jesse Plemons in Star Wars, or Zoe Saldana in a Rosemary's Baby miniseries? How about Gerard Butler in Point Break? And what do you think of Shia LaBeouf's retirement? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Twitter @JimLovesMovies for more news as it develops!
James is a 24 year old writer and filmmaker living in Portland, OR. He attended college for graphic design and writes for various sources on the web about film, television, and entertainment.
You can view all of his work on his website, www.thereeljames.wordpress.com
