STAR WARS Writer Lawrence Kasdan Will Start Fresh on Spin-Off Films

Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan is back to help build on the massive Star Wars universe that he helped create. In a recent interview with the LA Times he talked a little bit about the new Star Wars films that he's working on, and how he is looking to have a fresh start on the standalone films. He and Simon Kinberg will each write a spin-off movie for Lucasfilm and Disney, and the plan is to release them after J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII. Here's what he had to say,

I’m trying to start fresh. There are certain pleasures that we think the saga can bring to people that they’ve been missing, and we’re hoping to bring them that, and at the same time, have them feel that it’s all new.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Kasdan ends up creating, not only can we expect something fun and exciting, but he's a great screenwriter so the script is going to be good! He went on to talk about George Lucas and Abrams saying,

George sort of brought me into this part of it, and he’s stepping back from the company. He’s sort of given his blessing to everybody, and he’ll be there if you need him. I think everyone’s interested to see where this can go. It’s been some very different places over 30 years …. I think with J.J., we’ll get something entirely new.

He then goes on to talk about the previous Star Wars films that he made, and how they are different from the prequel movies made years later,

The ones I worked on were a long time ago, and they had a slightly different feeling than the ones that followed. The first three, 'Star Wars,' 'Empire’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ are all sort of more about people than the ones that followed. ‘Empire’ appeals to people, I think, because it’s the second act of a three-act play, and everything sort of goes to hell during the movie. And when you leave, everyone is in trouble, and that is the best part of the story to write. And people responded to it. Irvin Kershner was a completely different kind of director than George, so the movie’s much darker than the first ‘Star Wars.’ It’s more edgy.

And that's why it was the best one among most fans, but in his opinion the first Star Wars is the best movie because, "it changed movies forever." He does make a good point, but still, Empire was so amazing.