(MENAFN- Arab Times) Josh Trank will no longer direct the "Star Wars" spinoff for Disney and Lucasfilm. The studio made the announcement with Trank on Friday. "It was a privilege to collaborate with Josh," Lucasfilm said in a statement. "We are grateful for the energy and love of 'Star Wars' that he brought to the process, and we wish him all the best." Sources close to the situation tell Variety that Trank and screenwriter Simon Kinberg weren't thrilled with the idea of working together again. The duo apparently clashed while filming 20th Century Fox's "Fantastic Four" reboot, which opens later this summer, and Kinberg wanted another director.
Also a writer of Fox's "X-Men" films, Kinberg is a major creative force in Disney's "Star Wars" universe. He recently served as a creative consultant on J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which bows in December, and continues to shape the cherished franchise with Disney and Lucasfilm.
Less than two weeks ago, Trank was a last-minute no-show at Disney's Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, prompting Internet speculation that something was afoot. The "Chronicle" filmmaker quickly apologized on Twitter, telling fans that he had the "worst flu" of his life. "Hey all. So, so, so sad to have missed today. Worst flu of my life," he wrote. "I hear it went beautifully with Gareth (Edwards). Here's to next year.".
Disney backed the director's claim, saying the studio was notified the morning-of the event about his illness and insisted that Trank was still attached to the standalone movie. Other rumors suggest that Disney specifically told him to skip the event.
The untitled "Star Wars" movie won't be released until 2019, according to sources. It's one of two standalone pics Disney and Lucasfilm are developing. Gareth Edwards' "Rogue One," starring Felicity Jones, opens next year. Another oddity from the Star Wars Celebration on April 19 event came when 20th Century Fox released the "Fantastic Four" trailer during the Trank and Gareth Edwards' panel. Did Fox know that Trank was no longer directing "Star Wars"?
Fox, of course, used to distribute the "Star Wars" films before Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012.
News of Trank's exit was announced the same day that Disney released its biggest film of the year, "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
In a statement posted on the "Star Wars" official site, Trank said: "After a year of having the incredible honor of developing with the wonderful and talented people at Lucasfilm, I'm making a personal decision to move forward on a different path. I've put a tremendous amount of thought into this, and I know deep down in my heart that I want to pursue some original creative opportunities.
Excited
That said, the 'Star Wars' universe has always been one of my biggest influences, and I couldn't be more excited to witness its future alongside my millions of fellow 'Star Wars' fans. I want to thank my friends Kathleen Kennedy, Kiri Hart, Simon Kinberg, and everyone at Lucasfilm and Disney for the amazing opportunity to have been a part of this. May the Force be with you all."
As for Trank's next move, a rep for 20th Century Fox told Variety that no director or writer has been set for the "Fantastic Four" sequel. Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Michael B. Jordan, "Fantastic Four" opens nationwide Aug 7.
A spokesman for Trank could not be reached for comment.
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LOS ANGELES: Kyle Patrick Alvarez ("The Stanford Prison Experiment") will direct an adaptation of Graham McNamee's YA thriller "Acceleration" for Theresa Park's Pow! Productions and Peter Safran, Variety has learned exclusively.
Alvarez will direct from a script he's adapting with Adam Shazar. "Stanford Prison Experiment" debuted in January at Sundance, where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
"Acceleration," published in 2003, unfolds over a blisteringly hot summer, during which the 17-year-old protagonist is working in the bowels of the Transit Authority's Lost and Found department, cataloging misplaced belongings. When he stumbles across a lost diary filled with the twisted secrets of a serial killer, he quickly realizes the killer is stalking his prey in the subway and that his next victim has already been chosen. Park, a longtime literary agent who is also Nicholas Sparks' producing partner, recently founded Pow! to develop and produce her own book-based film projects. She and Safran jointly produced with Sparks on "The Choice," which Lionsgate is slated to release in February.
Safran produced "The Conjuring" and is on board "The Conjuring 2" and James Gunn's "The Belco Experiment."
Variety reported in March that IFC had acquired rights to "The Stanford Prison Experiment", starring Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan and Michael Angarano. Alvarez's previous film, "C.O.G.," also premiered in competition at Sundance and was acquired by Focus World. Alvarez is represented by UTA and by manager Chris Davey.
LOS ANGELES: Broad Green Pictures has come on board "Buena Vista Social Club - Adios," a sequel to Wim Wenders' 2000 documentary about Cuban music. Board Green in a financing the project with Lucy Walker ("Waste Land") directing and Christine Cowin and Zak Kilberg producing. Broad Green has worldwide rights and will distribute in the United States, with Mister Smith Entertainment handling international sales, starting at the Cannes Film Festival.
"Buena Vista Social Club - Adios" is the first project to emerge from the partnership between Broad Green and Mister Smith since the two companies announced Broad Green had bought a 45 percent stake in Mister Smith. Wenders' film, which was nominated for a best documentary Oscar, centered on efforts by Ry Cooder to bring together prominent Cuban musicians to record an album and to perform in Amsterdam and New York City's Carnegie Hall. The film included concert footage and interviews with the main performers. It grossed $23 million worldwide.
"Buena Vista Social Club - Adios" will begin shooting in July and focus on the five original band members on tour, and their personal and professional highs and lows since 1999. The tour will culminate in a series of homecoming concerts in Havana. Broad Green will lead production alongside Blink TV and Convergent Media. Victor Moyers and Asher Goldstein will oversee production for the studio. Broad Green, founded by Gabriel and Daniel Hammond in 2014, has focused on adult-oriented dramas with a release slate including "99 Homes," "A Walk in the Woods" and Terrence Malick's "Knight of Cups."
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