Second STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY Film Reportedly Confirmed As Boba Fett Origin Story

Two years ago, there were rumors that the Star Wars Anthology films (then referred to as standalone movies) would center on origin stories for some of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars universe: Han Solo, Boba Fett, and Yoda. Gareth Edwards' Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One is the first standalone film, and as far as we know, that doesn't have anything to do with a Han Solo origin story. Now The Wrap is reporting that the second anthology film, slated for 2018, will indeed be an origin story for bounty hunter Boba Fett.

Chronicle and Fantastic Four director Josh Trank was set to direct this movie, but he dropped out this past Friday amid a flurry of speculation and rumors. Trank didn't show up to last month's Star Wars Celebration, citing a flu as the reason for the no-show. There's no word yet about who might replace him in the director's chair.

There's one odd piece of info in the report, though. The Wrap says:

Writer-producer Simon Kinberg has been closely involved in the creative process for the second anthology film, which is set in a separate movie universe that is not associated with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” or upcoming Episodes VIII and IX.

A separate movie universe? That doesn't sound right to me. Everything we've heard about these Star Wars anthology films so far indicates that all Star Wars movies moving forward will take place in the same universe. That's the entire point of the Lucasfilm Story Group: making sure that everything lines up, connects, and makes sense in all of the Star Wars-related properties that will be coming out over the years. If there was a separate movie universe, then continuity wouldn't matter. Boba Fett could even murder a baby Luke Skywalker if he wanted to, because it's a different universe.

I think this is just a simple typo from The Wrap — they likely meant that none of the characters from the standalone film would interact with the characters from the regular numbered saga movies — but just in case it turns out to be true, this is the first time we're hearing about a massive shift in the way Lucasfilm is approaching its storytelling.

What do you think about a Boba Fett origin story? And who should direct it?