Next STAR WARS Stand-Alone Film Loses Director

Josh Trank, who was attached to direct the second STAR WARS anthology film, has decided to part ways with the project, according to an announcement on the STAR WARS official website.

Trank said in a 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. 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."

Lucasfilm VP of Development Kiri Hart commented: "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."

The movie will forge ahead without Trank, whose new FANTASTIC FOUR film will hit theaters this summer. The STAR WARS project is eyeing a 2018 premiere.

The first stand-alone STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, helmed by Garth Edwards, will debut next year, while STAR WARS: EPISODE VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS (from Disney) is set for a December 18 release.