Director Josh Trank has parted ways with the second standalone Star Wars film for Disney and Lucasfilm.
Trank, the director of the upcoming Fantastic Four and 2012’s Chronicle, announced the departure on the StarWars.com website on Friday, citing unspecific “personal” reasons for parting with the still untitled film.
Trank said in the statement:
“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. 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.” Trank ended the statement with, “May the Force be with you all.”
When Trank was announced to helm the spinoff film in June 2014, he said Star Warsmagic “defined my entire childhood.”
“The opportunity to expand on that experience for future generations is the most incredible dream of all time,” he added at the time.
Lucasfilm VP of Development Kiri Hart said on the Star Wars site Friday. “It was a privilege to collaborate with Josh. We are grateful for the energy and love of Star Wars that he brought to the process, and we wish him all the best.”
No replacement for Trank has been named yet.
J.J. Abrams is currently working on Star Wars: Episode VII, due out Dec. 18, 2015. Director Gareth Edwards is helming the first spinoff movie. Star Wars: Rogue One.
At the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim in April, Trank was supposed to be part of the panel discussing the Star Wars spinoff films. The industry organ Variety reported that Rogue One director Edwards showed up. But Trank was “nowhere to be found.”
The moderator of the panel noted at that time that Trank was “under the weather,” but speculation about a possible departure swirled.
The Hollywood Reporter reported Friday that Trank was asked by Disney executives not to attend the Star Wars event.
